Saturday 5 July 2014 18:59, UK
Salford coach Iestyn Harris believes his side can still challenge for a play-off spot after a stunning 36-10 win at high-flying Huddersfield.
Kevin Locke made an instant impact in Super League, scoring a try and kicking six goals, while fellow mid-season recruit Mason Caton-Brown marked his maiden appearance since joining from London Broncos with a stunning long-range try.
It was only the Red Devils' second win in 11 matches but Harris believes a play-off spot is still within their reach.
"There are enough games left for us to challenge the eight," he said. "It's still in our hands.
There are enough games left for us to challenge the eight. It's still in our hands.
"We've got a long way to go. There are a lot of bad habits at the club we're gradually changing into good habits.
"It was a good win for us and it's important we start picking up these wins.
"I didn't think the performance was fantastic. We've a lot of things to work on but to get a win here is always difficult and to score the points we did is good.
"We're learning how to defend as a team now and we're starting to see some improvements so that's real pleasing."
Harris believes there will be a lot more to come from Locke, who has joined the Red Devils on a three-and-a-half-year deal from New Zealand Warriors.
"Kevin is a world-class player and the reason we brought him to the club is because he can do things that not many other players can do and I think he showed that at times," he said. "He looked composed and controlled for a bloke who only got off a plane on Tuesday.
"He's only had one training session with us and I'm sure he will get better and better.
"He's probably a month off if I'm honest. He's a little bit heavy - he's probably two or three kilogrammes heavier than he should be and that will come down gradually over his training time on the field. We're quite happy with where he is and we're looking forward to seeing him trim up over the next three or four weeks."
Huddersfield, who went into the game with only one defeat in their last 10 matches, lost full-back Scott Grix early in the game with an abductor injury and captain Danny Brough left the field clutching his jaw after a late and high tackle challenge from Lama Tasi, who was sent off.
Giants coach Paul Anderson admitted his side's performance "wasn't good enough" but was critical of Salford's aggressive approach, claiming they were guilty of a host of "cheap shots".
"It seemed that way," he said. "Broughy was knocked to the ground after he passed the ball.
"My disappointment once Broughy and Eorl (Crabtree) and Robbo (Luke Robinson) got knocked out was that, our blokes didn't rip in and absolutely knock 10 bells out of the bloke that did it because one cheap shot deserves another."
But Harris defended his side's rigorous approach.
"The policy is that we're physical," he said. "I want them to be aggressive and dominant defensively and I thought we were. The by-product of that is that you do hurt people sometimes."
