Salford Red Devils team captain Mark Flanagan attended the 2018 Super League launch yesterday at the John Smith’s Stadium.
The loose-forward spoke to Rugby AM about Salford’s ambitions for the upcoming season and hopes the side can achieve something special this year.
Flanagan, sponsored by Sparta Lightning Services, said: “It’s been tough training.
“We’ve been doing a lot of wrestling and a lot of defence so hopefully we should start off with a good defensive record.
“We’ve got some new recruits Jack Littlejohn and Ben Nakubuwai from Australia and Luke Burgess has returned to the Club and he’s been training really well.
“Some new faces and some old faces as well who are ready to go and just hoping for the season to start tomorrow to be honest because it has been a long cold pre-season.”
“I think we need to start well again.
“If we can replicate we’ll be in a good position I think you need a bit of luck we were unlucky with injuries last year we lost a lot of key personnel at the same time.
“I think it’s just kicking on to the next level we were in a good position to do well and win some silverware last year probably fell down at the last hurdle but we’ll gain from the experience.
“I think the lads will be better prepared this season and there’s no reason why we can’t really do something special this year.”
Flanagan missed the last third of the 2017 season with a shoulder injury and is aiming to get a full season under his belt with the Red Devils this time around.
Flanagan said: “Off the field keep being happy and keep smiling and on the field just keep playing hopefully stay injury free and lets do something special and maybe win something get to a final and really kick on from last year.”
Tag: Rugby AM
Martin Gleeson – "It's going to be a special night"
Salford Red Devils Assistant Coach Martin Gleeson, speaking to Rugby AM, feels his testimonial Lancashire vs Yorkshire match is going to be a ‘special night’.
Gleeson said: “Lancashire vs Yorkshire, I was lucky enough to play back in 2002 which Lancashire won, by the way.
“It’s going to be a special night everyone is doing work behind the scenes getting ready for this game it’s not going to be a game of touch and pass put it that way.
“There’s some big names lining up for both teams with bags of international experience and bags of Super League winner rings, Lance Todd’s – you name it.
“The teams are going to be littered with stars from the past who you probably won’t get to see again. It’s going to be a great occasion.
“We’ve got Sam Tomkins who is going to be coaching the Lancashire team he’s going to put us through a few drills and head that side of things up for us.”
Both sides have been calling each other out on social media with Lancashire’s Paul Wood and Yorkshire’s Wayne Godwin at the centre of the sledging.
Gleeson said: “There’s a lot of banter going around on social media namely from Wagga [Wayne Godwin] who I think out of all the accolades that people have won who are going to be playing that night I don’t think Wagga’s won anything – not one trophy.
“I think this match gives him his opportunity to win his first trophy I think so I think the pressure will get to him when he gets out there and he realises what’s at stake.
“We’ve got Mozza [Adrian Morley] and Barrie Mac [Barrie McDermott] who’ve been watching those videos and the calling out that Wagga’s been doing they’ll probably keep quiet on social media and leave it until the Wednesday night on the 30th.”
