Thursday 9 April 2015 15:47, UK
This week has been particularly lively at Salford with star half-back Rangi Chase picking up a seven-game ban for a “Grade E dangerous throw” during the match with Huddersfield, writes Sky Sports News HQ reporter Fraser Dainton.
Red Devils coach Iestyn Harris believes the punishment is somewhat harsh.
“I’m obviously disappointed, seven games is a lot,” he said. “We’re desperately disappointed that Brett Ferres got injured, and has had that from the tackle.
“There’s certainly no malice or intent to injure from Rangi in the tackle. I think it’s just a really unfortunate situation where he has got injured, but we don’t feel as though the tackle deserves the seven games. But you’ve got to take things on the chin sometimes, and we will.”
At the time, Giants coach Paul Anderson was livid, saying the RFL should “throw the book” at Chase. Ferres could be on the sidelines for several months.
Harris continues: “I’ve spoken to him at length. If you see the tackle, Rangi’s reaction when it’s done and when Brett gets injured, he’s clearly devastated with it.
“I know he’s friends with Brett; he’d never want to injure another player, certainly not a mate. I don’t think there was any intent from it. It’s just a really unfortunate accident, and we bear the brunt of that.”
So Salford will have to shuffle the pack as they welcome Super League’s table-toppers Leeds on Sunday.
“It happens at this time of year,” said Harris. “Probably 60 or 70 per cent of clubs have their own issues and headaches. What you have is a responsibility to perform when you’re in these periods. What you can’t do is let performances and standards dip.
“We know Leeds will come here with a few concerns of their own, but we know they’ll be at their best, so we’ve got to make sure that we’re the same. We’ve had to do that in our last two games in order to be a 10 out of 10, and we’ll try to do it again.”
I think it’s just a really unfortunate situation where Brett Ferres has got injured, but we don’t feel as though the tackle deserves the seven games.
The Red Devils go into the weekend third in the table, thanks to five wins and a draw in their last seven games.
“We’re happy with third, but we don’t put too much emphasis on it at this stage,” said Harris. “We’re not even halfway yet. We need to make sure we keep doing things well, and improve on the areas where we’re not so crash hot. We don’t feel we’re anywhere near our best yet. We’re doing some basic things well which allows us to compete.”
The other big story of the week was the news that Sam Tomkins will be heading back to England next season.
Salford’s ever ambitious owner Marwan Koukash says he will back Harris in his pursuit of any player he wants. So does Harris want Tomkins?
“Niall Evalds is growing his reputation in the game, and of course everyone is aware of the qualities of Kevin Locke, so we have two top full-backs,” he replied.
“Do we need another? I’m not sure. But Sam Tomkins is a world-class player, and if a world-class player becomes available, and you have an opportunity, you’d be foolish not to look at it. But for us it’s not an area where we desperately need to recruit.”
