“They were not even average last night.” So wrote Salford Red Devils owner Marwan Koukash on Twitter following Friday’s Super League loss to Warrington Wolves.
The 28-12 defeat against last year’s grand finalists at the AJ Bell Stadium came despite two tries from on-loan winger Dom Manfredi.
The Red Devils were missing some big name players including Rangi Chase and Gareth Hock, a sign for coach Brian Noble (pictured) that after opening their 2014 campaign with two wins they will have a fight on their hands to contend at the top of the table.
“The honeymoon period is over and we did some silly things,” he said. “We shot ourselves in the foot and didn’t make the start we wanted.”
“The effort was good but we have to make sure we go in the right direction. We made too many errors and need to play smarter.”
Koukash meanwhile remains confident that the team he is assembling will one day rub shoulders with the very best in the game.
Time for all the Devils , including me, to work harder to deliver the dream. IT WILL BE DELIVERED.
— Marwan Koukash (@drmarwanK) March 16, 2014
A day earlier however the businessman morphed from owner into a fan when he let rip on the social media site, and the players can probably expect more of the same if they do not address their weaknesses so far this season.
“Last night’s performance is simply not good enough. Injuries cannot be used as an excuse and will not. We all deserve better results,” he said.
“Warrington is a good team, but cannot be used as an excuse for not performing. They (Salford) were not even average last night.
“Our performances over the last five games have been not good and won’t pretend otherwise. At the end of the day, I am a fan and want to speak my mind.”
Koukash was fined £1,000 last week for misconduct by the Rugby Football League for further comments on Twitter and for foul and/or abusive language at a public event last month.
Image courtesy of Super League TV via YouTube, with thanks.
