Salford Red Devils boss Paul Rowley has heaped praise on Brodie Croft after his Man of the Match display in Sunday’s record-breaking 74-10 victory over Wakefield Trinity.
The stand-off was one of several standout candidates on an afternoon where the Red Devils broke the record for their biggest ever points margin and points scored in the Betfred Super League.
Despite falling behind early on, Paul Rowley’s side sprang into life and played some electric rugby league in front of the adoring AJ Bell faithful. Tim Lafai’s instant response was followed by tries from Deon Cross, Ken Sio, Ryan Brierley, and a brace for Joe Burgess before the break.
Salford’s intensity amplified in the second forty, with Brierley, Cross, and Sio grabbing their second of the game before Burgess acrobatically secured his hat-trick. There was even time for tries from Kallum Watkins, Sitaleki Akauola and Brodie Croft to pile the pain on the visitors.
Speaking of Croft, he was the main topic of conversation in Paul Rowley’s post-match press conference and the head coach revealed his emotions when substituting one of his key men late into the game.
“The game of rugby league is made for Brodie Croft!” Paul Rowley began.
“If you don’t know him well enough he’s an all-around rugby league player, he’s an all-around character, he’s fantastic. The highlight of my day was subbing him off because I got to – with my assistant coach – have a bit of an emotional moment because we were so proud of seeing him get a standing ovation.
“He’s had an international week and he’s walked off to a standing ovation. To me, that was the highlight of my day. I was so pleased for him.”
Moving on to gush with praise about the performance as a collective, Rowley believes the record-breaking day is something to be proud of.
Rowley continued: “It’s really rewarding for the players. To get something so positive associated with the club and the players is just-reward for the lads and really something to be proud about for the whole club and the supporters as well.
“We are really delighted with it and we do not take it lightly at all,” he concluded.
Next up for the Red Devils is a trip to local rivals, Warrington in Round 17 of the Betfred Super League. Rowley and his players will want to carry this form into another key fixture to showcase their attacking flair at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
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