Leuluai’s Super 7 Dream Team
February 17, 2009 by Paul Mc · 2 Comments
The first of a new regular feature where we put a Reds’ star in charge of his own 7-a-side Dream Team. The only rule being they have to have played either with or against the players they choose. You’d think it would be simple but with a wealth of world class talent to choose from it’s a longer process than you’d think!
First in the hot seat hoping to avoid a bit of a Scolari is Big Phil Leuluai who could be accused of taking this a little too seriously. Phil, don your sheepskin jacket now, your time has come!
Manager: Phil Leuluai
We should point out at this stage we only asked for seven players but Phil insisted he wanted to name his substitutes as well because he thought he was a bit light up front and needed some more go-forward so here goes!
Adam Blair
James Graham
Gareth Ellis
The Dream Team Super 7s is published in every reds’ Matchday Magazine, available on gamedays for just £2.50
Swain’s World – Exclusive Luke Swain Interview
December 10, 2008 by Paul Mc · Comments Off
Following on from yesterday’s interview with Mark Henry we exclusively speak with the Reds other import-to-be, former Gold Coast Titan Luke Swain who is set to land shortly after Christmas.
Luke will join former North Queensland Cowboys Ray Cashmere and Mark Henry and South Sydney’s Jeremy Smith in heading to these shores for 2009 and beyond and with the Reds being joined by Celtic Crusaders as the new boys in Super League but he is no stranger to playing Super League opposition.
“Playing in the world club challenge for Penrith against Bradford in 2004 gave me a good indication of just how strong the Super League is as they gave us a bit of a hiding! Plus we get two games a week over here on the TV so I’ve had a bit of a chance to check out the competition before I arrive.” Luke told us.
“ I’m just really excited about the challenge of proving myself in another competition. Salford have given me the opportunity to do that so I hope I can repay them by giving my best performance each week for the club and the fans.” he continued.
Ray also has a little experience playing alongside some of the current Reds’ stars and fans will be hoping it is this familiarity that will lead to him settling in quickly.
“I’ve played with both Craig Stapleton and John Wilshere before at Penrith. I’ve been keeping up with how they’re going over there and it’s good to hear of all the success the two of them are having. I’ve played against big Ray Cashmere and it’s good to know he’s on my side now and I don’t have to tackle him any more.”
With Cashmere getting rave reviews from the lads who have played both with and against him it’s clear that big Ray could make quite an impact in the engage Super League next season but it will be the performance of the rest of the pack that could shape the outcome of the Reds’ season and Shaun McRae will see Luke as a key member of his forward six.
“I prefer loose-forward or lock (depending on where you are from!) and I’m excited about playing Super League as it means I’ll be coming up against quality opposition week in and week out. Playing with and against players I’ve never lined up with before will have me out of my comfort zone and its a challenge I’m really looking forward to.”
Like all Aussies upping sticks and heading into a UK winter Luke is aware that temperature is going to play a factor in his game but the Jacksonville training camp should help to offset it a little:-
“Coming from an Australian summer to an English winter should be interesting. I don’t know how many pairs of my board shorts I’ll have to pack but I’m definitely looking forward to meeting up with all the boys, I’ve never been on a training camp of this magnitude before, it might be a standard thing for Super League teams but I’m really looking forward to it!
“Moving countries is going to be an experience and my beautiful fiancée Alisha and I have a 9-month old son Lachlan. We are definitely excited about the move. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and we’re looking forward to experiencing living in a new country and meeting new people.”
Luke Swain was speaking exclusively to Paul McNally
Reds fans are reminded that there are only a few days remaining to buy your 2009 Season Ticket at the discounted price and qualify for their promotional shirt. Don’t Miss Out!
Mark Henry – Exclusive Interview
December 9, 2008 by Paul Mc · Comments Off
As it’s the season to be jolly we’ve tracked down the remaining two of the Reds’ new overseas stars for 2009 before they arrive on these shores, sat them down and giving them a good grilling about what they hope to achieve at The Willows next season and beyond.
First it’s the turn of ex-North Queensland Cowboy Mark Henry who is speaking exclusively to Paul McNally ahead of his arrival in the UK next month. Tomorrow we’ll be speaking to Gold Coast Titans’ Luke Swain to complete the duo.
Arriving in the UK from Australia in early January from the balmy heat of an Australian summer is always going to be a shock to the system, but that’s exactly what former North Queensland Cowboys star Mark Henry and his new bride intend to do when they arrive at Manchester Airport shortly after getting married. Fortunately they are more than ready to throw themselves into the swing of things.
“It’s pretty hectic at the moment but I’m lucky, my fiance Jade is very organised so we are on top of it. The wedding is a good opportunity to say goodbye to friends over in Australia before we start our new adventure over in the UK. Both Jade and I are very excited about travelling overseas as we have not been before. My two sisters have both had the opportunity and both loved it so yeah I’m very much looking forward to it.” Mark enthuses.
I still think I have not played my best game yet and Salford gives me that opportunity. As a team you want to get your fans behind you as much as possible by bringing plenty of intensity to the game
With the disappointment most British RL fans felt at the recent performances of the National team and the standard of Super League itself taking a bit of a battering in the Aussie media it might be easy to underestimate the size of the task ahead for any new imported player, but Mark is aware of the skill factor in the European competition already.
“I watch it when I get an opportunity to. Fox sports plays a couple of games each week over here and I have a few former team mates (Rod Jensen, Dave Faiumu and Matt Sing) playing in the Super League so it is good to watch and see how they are going. From what I have gathered it appears to be quite a fast paced game so I will have to make sure I’m physically prepared for that this season.”
With that in mind it has already been reported that Mark had to undergo some surgery after his last NRL campaign, but he was quick to put to rest any scare stories about the severity of the work.
“I had groin and shoulder surgery straight after the end of the season. I finished the season playing quite well so it was not something that prevented me from playing. However the medical staff recommended I have it performed and assured me that I would be physically stronger as a result. Both were minor operations involving a small piece of bone to be shaved off my shoulder and a hernia repair to assist my groin. The rehab coming along ahead of schedule and I will be 100% when I arrive in Salford.”
Mark’s transition to life at Salford will doubtless be eased as he will be joining former Cowboys’ team-mate Ray Cashmere, a player who made a tremendous impact in the NRL last term,
“Razor is a great man to have in a football club. Firstly I think he was one of our best this year with the Cowboys and a player that the NRL was talking about possibly playing Origin football. As a player he is obviously big and strong with a good offload and gives 100% at all times whether at training or on the field. As a person Ray is never short of providing a laugh with his dry sense of humour. I think he is a big asset to the club and a person that as people get to know him will enjoy being around.
“I haven’t met any of the other guys but I have watched players like Luke Swain, Willie Talau and John Wilshere play to name a few but not met them personally. Im looking forward to meeting all the players and their different personalities. I did however have the opportunity to meet Shaun McRae briefly in Townsville where he gave me a good picture of what to expect.
“The Reds obviously have exciting plans with the new stadium and it’s something for the club and the people of the Salford community to really look forward to. I’d love the opportunity to play there. I really want to get the best out of myself at Salford. One thing that playing in the NRL has taught me is that you have to back up with good performances week after week. I still think I have not played my best game yet and Salford gives me that opportunity. As a team you want to get your fans behind you as much as possible by bringing plenty of intensity to the game”
Mark Henry was talking to Paul McNally. Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Luke Swain on Wednesday
Reds fans are reminded that there are only a few days remaining to buy your 2009 Season Ticket at the discounted price and qualify for their promotional shirt. Don’t Miss Out!
The Final Countdown – Interview with John Wilkinson, OBE
One year on since we sat down with Salford City Reds Chairman, John Wilkinson, OBE for our last interview and things have moved on apace. John once again talks to
Paul McNally to speak of his vision for the future of the Reds with their move to the new stadium closer than ever.
A year is a long time in professional sport and in some ways ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ has never been more apt. Relegation from the Super League hit the Reds like a bolt from the blue at the end of last season. The year before had been Salford’s most successful ever in Super League and the future was as rosy as it could be before disaster on the field struck.
Now, several months on, with a new world-class Head Coach in place, the team sitting pretty in National League one and, at the time of writing, in the Quarter Finals of the Northern Rail Cup, the harrowing end to the 2007 campaign is becoming a distant memory.
John and the Reds board moved swiftly to right the wrongs of a flawed campaign. Bringing in Shaun McRae as head Coach, a man who has a Super League championship to his name with St Helens was the start of the new revolution. New Zealand international superstar Robbie Paul was next and the rugby league world began to sit up and take notice that the Reds intended to back and be back quickly.
Now, with work having finally commenced on site at the state-of-the-art new stadium at Barton and a very strong application for a Super League licence for 2009 onwards, the Reds have definitely turned the corner and playing in the National League for a season has even allowed them to try out some unique marketing schemes that they have reaped the benefits of.
“Nobody was more down at Salford at the end of last year than the people who live and breathe the club but the progress has to go on”, John said, “Now only a few months down the line things are very positive and we are able to quietly go about our work, getting everything ready for what we believe will be our return to Super League next season.”
Fundamental to the Reds bid for a swift Super League return has been the ability to get things moving at the site for the new City of Salford Stadium. With actual construction just weeks away it has been a long decade of planning applications and architectural twists and turns but it is almost time for the big guns to arrive on site.
The area is now clear and the land settling in preparation for the arrival of the machinery and components that will go towards building one of Rugby League’s showpiece venues, not just in this country but across the globe.
With the end of an, at times, frustrating, road in site John shares the feelings of every Reds’ fan at the prospect of watching the team run out in Barton for the first time.
“This stadium will be very important, not just for the sport of rugby league, but for our communities and city as a whole. Salford has changed dramatically in recent years and the people who live here now see that it is turning into an international destination with world-renowned attractions and businesses within our boundaries. Our new stadium will add to this and people outside can look at us and see what we have achieved in a relatively short period of time.
“It’s difficult to put into words how I will feel when Salford City Reds play our first game in our new home. I think the main feeling will be one of great pride that this facility will be there to the benefit of everybody for the next century, and that families and children for years long after will be able to come and enjoy seeing world-class athletes on our very doorstep.”
The famous old Willows, which has stood proudly in the Weaste district of Salford for the last century will finally give up its heritage and make its inevitable way into history taking with it its huge raft of memories, something with John is keen to show the proper amount of respect.
“We have recently announced plans for a Memorial Garden at the new site for the fans who have passed away over the years. A lot of people have had their ashes spread at The Willows and it is a very important place to a lot of people, so much so we knew we would have to do something to mark this appropriately.
“The Memorial Garden, which will use soil from The Willows allows us to take everybody with us and is the correct way to mark our move. Amid all the excitement of the build-up to a rugby league match it is right that there will be an area where people can reflect quietly on the passing of loved ones.
”
Rugby League prides itself on its family image and in order to continue to grow the sport it is the families and younger children that are vital to the club.
With the Reds moving into a new area of the city, and one that provides easy access to potentially hundreds of thousands of new potential spectators on the doorstep in Manchester, the club has seized on the possibility of promoting themselves while showcasing an exciting, winning brand of rugby.
At the start of this season John came up with the ‘Golden Angel’ – a scheme that allowed all the schools within the city to reward their children for their achievements in conjunction with the City Reds.
At the discretion of the school, head teachers were allowed to nominate children for their efforts that week with a certificate of Achievement signed by John himself, as well as a family ticket to come to the next Reds fixture.
The scheme has been an unmitigated success story with the Reds having twice broken the 6.000 crowd barrier this season and the sight of the Family Stand full has been extremely pleasing for the club.
“When I came up with the Golden Angel scheme we knew that we had the opportunity to do something special this year. The way all of the schools have come on board has been great and the children that are coming along are very proud that they have won their awards and that in turn has made their family’s proud.
“I believe every child in our city should have the opportunity to watch world class sport and what we are doing is giving the schools the opportunity to reward children with something special. The feedback we have had has been amazing. I have people coming up to me out and about in the city saying thanks for letting little Johnny go to the rugby, he’s got his certificate on his bedroom wall and I say to them, it’s not us, the child has that has won it for themselves.
“We have also got a very good sponsor for the scheme in NPP Security, a great local company who have been with us for a while now. It has really igniting the imagination of the city and this has been reflected in our healthy attendances with many people seeing live sport for the first time and then returning the week after which has been very pleasing.”
It is not just new sponsors that have joined the Reds this season. They have recently announced that premier sponsor the Trafford Centre will once again be on the shirt for 2009, something with which John is rightly pleased,
“We are delighted that an organisation of the magnitude of the Trafford Centre continues to put such a high value on its relationship with the Reds.
“To be able to command one of the biggest shirt sponsorship deals in the whole of rugby league tremendous. It is a deal that is the envy of most Super League clubs and is testament to the appeal and attractiveness of the Salford club to big business.”
Besides the Trafford Centre the Reds have also welcomed another major player to the table in Drivers Jonas, who as well as being the new Family Stand sponsor, are also the Project Management company for the Barton construction.
So with all of that in mind, it will be a very different interview no doubt when we sit down with the Chairman in 2009. The Reds have always maintained throughout the year that the only thing that was not Super League about the outfit was the title alone and have made great strides to ensure that both the on and off-field operation remains as professional as possible.
The rewards of this will begin to be reaped over the next 18 months as the Reds look to settle in their new home in front of record crowds at the pinnacle of the toughest game in the world
Into The West – Interview with Adam Thomas – Part 2
May 20, 2008 by Paul Mc · Comments Off
Adam Thomas, Managing Director of Red City Developments, sits down with Steve McNally in part two of our interview to talk stadiums, and more specifically, the Reds magnificent new home at the Western gateway into Salford.
Sounds fantastic doesn’t it? And the experience before you get to your seat and at half time will be just as impressive. What can sponsors and supporters expect their match day experience to be like outside of watching the actual game?
“I used the word spectacular earlier. Sensational is another appropriate word. Supporters will experience a stadium designed, unlike most, to welcome them in rather than make them feel like we are trying to keep them out.
From the moment they arrive to the moment they leave their experience will be warm, friendly and breathtaking.
Along with the best seated views in the country the City of Salford Stadium will also be home to the first deliberately built standing section in the UK since the Taylor Report changed the landscape of sport. Other new stadia have standing sections, but they are just basically seated areas where the seats have been removed and crush barriers installed. Ours will be very different, and is there in response to the fans request for such a section. We aim to please.
Away from the pitch the wide, sweeping concourses will ensure comfort and convenience for all in attendance and we will ensure that everyone’s needs are satisfied in terms of food, drink and merchandising in an efficient and courteous manner.
Even the car parking will utilise intelligent technology, with cutting edge systems such as advanced number plate recognition in use to allow automatic entry for those cars that meet the necessary criteria.
As far as sponsors are concerned this will be a dream stadium in which to entertain their clients. We intend to provide the finest banqueting in any stadium in the country. This will be facilitated by the full-time hotel staff, who will provide a genuinely five star service on match day. Sponsors and corporate guests will have the choice of one of 19 fantastically high spec executive boxes, or to be entertained in the main banqueting hall – a huge venue with the ability to feed and entertain 1000 guests. I know the Rugby Club are already inviting businesses to register their interest for boxes, and if you think you might want one, my advice is to put your name down now as I am quite sure they will be very much over subscribed as the opening draws nearer.
The boxes have moveable walls and can accommodate anything from 8 to 30 people in privacy, and each will have its own dedicated bar. Companies will be able to invite guests to stay the night in one of the finest hotels in the city, leaving them free to concentrate on enjoying themselves without worrying how to get home after the match.
People really are going to be blown away – we have had ten years to think about every little detail, and this has been time well spent.”
Knowing all that, we can only imagine how frustrating it must be to have to listen to people mock, scoff and take cheap shots at the plans – if we never hear the word portacabin again it will probably be too soon. Another popular myth is that the stadium will not be built if the Reds aren’t granted a licence. It’s irritating enough for us, but when you are as close to the project as Adam is, surely the temptation to strike back must be almost overwhelming?
“Not at all. In fact, we have been deliberately quiet and with good reason. The Stadium itself will do all the talking that needs to be done. One thing I can say for certain is that the licencing process has no effect on what we are doing on site at Barton – licencing is a matter for the RFL, but both the club and Red City are confident that the people that matter at the RFL are fully aware of exactly what is going to happen over the next 18 months, that they understand the importance of the development to the sport not just to the club, and the fact that it is being built now, come what may and will be ready in 2010.
Very shortly now the final CGIs (computer generated images) based on the completed design should be ready, along with the fly through of the facility and we will be able to show people exactly what they will be getting in 2010. We will make a major presentation of them just as soon as we can, and it will be abundantly clear to everyone that this is a stadium that belongs nowhere else other than a premier competition.”
So then, fast forward to 2010 – what will that be like? Any predictions?
“Believe me when I say I’m not a betting man, but I would be willing to bet that in 2010 Salford City Reds will be averaging at least 14,000 throughout the first year, and there will be occasions when the stadium is sold out and people are locked outside. The attraction of this magnificent venue along with the strength of the club off the field will guarantee that.
I know fans of other clubs are sceptical of talk like that, but they aren’t privy to the market research that has been done. And I’m not talking about us stopping people and asking people on the street if they fancy going – this research was carried out independently by the very best in the field, and if anything their predictions usually err on the side of caution. But of course we can’t do anything about people being sceptical – all we can say is wait and see.
People were equally sceptical of Hull and Warrington when they moved with average crowds lower than Salford’s are this year. Look how that turned out. It’s even more relevant when you realise the Reds are achieving those crowd numbers in NL1 while Warrington and Hull were in Super League.
The potential for the Salford club really is staggering going forward. They will have the best stadium in the game in an unbelievably attractive location, already have fantastic strength in the back room department and if you throw some success on the pitch in to the mix I’m convinced people will be saying the stadium is not big enough rather than questioning whether 20,000 capacity is over reaching.”
And beyond that? What does the future hold for the man currently holding the keys to the City of Salford Stadium?
“Short term, my role is about to change immensely, from one of planning to one of holding contractors to task. I’m looking forward to that a great deal.
Longer term? It’s impossible to think beyond 2010 at this point. My hope is that once my work here is done I can move on to working more with the government on the goal of improving sporting facilities throughout the country and across all sports. It is one of my great passions, and I would love to be a part of the cure to what I think of as the English disease – the desire for sporting success without the willingness to put in either the money or effort that is required to achieve it.”
So no more stadiums then? Surely as ‘the man who can’ in terms of delivering such a magnificent venue he won’t be short of offers?
“No, I seriously doubt it at this point. The City of Salford Stadium has been my life for the last ten years, and I’m not sure I could put my family through it again. I think I am okay to admit that I have already turned down eight offers to build stadiums for other clubs, including two that are currently in Super League, but shall remain nameless!
Even though it’s been easily the biggest challenge of my life I have enjoyed almost every minute of it. The main reason I can’t imagine moving on to work on another stadium project is that I honestly don’t believe I could build a better stadium than the City of Salford Stadium. After all, once Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel I don’t think he ever worked on another roof, did he?
It will be interesting to see what happens to the next major stadium build following on from ours – each new stadium usually has to be better than the last to make an impression.
I know I am biased, but I really do think it will be difficult to beat.
I look forward to seeing someone try.”
So there you have it. The City of Salford Stadium in the words of the man responsible for building it.
Can I get an Amen?
STADIUM TIMELINE
November 2006
Reds receive go-ahead from planning inspector. Work begins on satisfying planning conditions, along with detailed stadium design
December 2007
Drivers Jonas appointed Project Managers, charged with delivering the build. Also appointed are structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers, an ecologist, archaeologist and lead architects AFL, among other key appointments
January 2008
Site clearing and enabling works begin
June 2008
Final stage remediation of the site in preparation to begin construction
September 2008
Work scheduled to begin on the construction of the City of Salford Stadium
June 2009
New playing pitch laid and seeded
Early 2010
Stadium commissioned for play. Salford City Reds begin playing at their new home.
Second Quarter 2010
Second phase of the development completed. Retail development opens
Chairman’s Christmas Letter
December 24, 2007 by Paul Mc · Comments Off
Dear all,
I’d like to begin my last letter of the year with a tremendous thank you for all of your support in 2007. With the passing of the New Year we are all set to leave behind the disappointments of last season and look forward to the future of Salford Rugby Club.
The speed in which our supporters have put our disappointment behind them is fantastic. I can proudly say that we have sold more season tickets pre-Christmas than ever before, and by some margin.
The staff in the offices have all said how you, the supporters, can’t wait for the season to get started and we are all hoping that Shaun McRae and his players can give us a year to remember. I would personally like to thank each and every one of you who have backed us for this season in the National League by buying a season ticket. It is with the aid of these much needed funds that any rugby club must survive throughout the off-season. So to the fans who have been with us for years and those who have purchased a season ticket for the first time, thank you.
I also firmly believe that our attendance in this division will be of vital importance to our franchise bid for 2009. We must show everybody that giving us a Super league license is not only the right decision but the best decision. I urge each and every one of you to bring as many people as you can with you to our games. Your continued support has never been more valuable to us and we need your help and assistance throughout the coming months on the terraces.
2008 will also be a landmark year for us as work will begin on our new stadium imminently. We have all had to wait patiently for this day to come but now it is almost upon us it is an exciting time indeed. We hope to play our first game there in 2010 and I’m sure when that day arrives all the waiting will have been worth it as the team proudly run out onto the new playing surface at Barton.
All that remains is for me to wish each and every one of you a very merry Christmas and a prosperous and happy New Year.
Yours,
John A Wilkinson, OBE,
Chairman, Salford City Reds
Open Letter to All Reds Fans
September 2, 2007 by Paul Mc · Comments Off
Those of you that know me will already know that words cannot express the disappointment we all feel at the outcome of this Super League season. Our hopes before the big kick off were high and we all feel let down by what happened during a traumatic season.
With hindsight you could probably say it was never going to be our year from the moment we lost Karl Fitzpatrick in pre-season with a serious injury but injuries cannot be an excuse, but we can and must come back from the disappointments of 2007 and continue to look forward to the bright new future that faces this club.
Now, more than ever, Salford City Reds needs your support. Not just as a rugby club with over 100 years of rich history, but as part of our community and indeed an integral part of our city.
The city of Salford is changing and it is vital we remain a force that its citizens, especially our families and our children can unite behind, so I urge each and every one of you to put behind the stark disappointments of this year and join with me in partnership to focus on the work that is ahead of us all.
2007 may not have been what we all expected but we have brought in a fantastic coach with the pedigree of winning the Super League on his CV. We have already begun to sign well for the next campaign and we will be rightly confident of a speedy return to Super League.
In March of next year we must apply for our franchise in Super League along with all other clubs and we are confident with the work we have done behind the scenes that this will be granted next June.
I will be in touch with you within the next two weeks to give you information with respect to our strategy for the coming months, with which your assistance will be essential to the future of our club.
We are already looking forward to great times ahead and I am certain that we can set our city alight once more with our colours before we return to the top flight of our great game.
Yours in sport,
John A Wilkinson, OBE,
Chairman
Salford City Reds
An Interview with Phillip Leuluai
August 8, 2007 by Paul Mc · Comments Off
Rugby League has always been a game that has spanned through generations of families. If your family has a history in the sport then chances are the children growing up will have been involved in the game at some point. Some families seem to have the very essence of the game in their blood. The English have the Mylers, and the Kiwi’s – well they have the Leuluais.
Anybody watching the game since the 80s will not have forgotten the scintillating Wembley performance of Hull legend James Leuluai in 1985, and that famous old name has returned to the Super League of late with James’ son Thomas playing at Harlequins and now Wigan.
This season Kylie, nephew of James signed for Leeds Rhinos and the latest addition to English RL is Phillip, who is James’ brother, who takes his place in the Reds’ line-up at Headingley to face nephew Kylie on Friday. Confused yet?
Phillip, Shaun McRae’s fourth signing since his arrival, made his Salford debut less than 48 hours after stepping off a plane at Manchester International last week, but now after a week of training with his new team-mates is looking to help tip the odds of the Reds maintaining their Super League status with a rare victory in Leeds.
“My signing for Salford all happened very quickly. Over the space of a couple of days actually. I basically had a day to tie up my business and get a flight to the UK once the work permit came through. My family will be following on in about a month.” he tells RedPlanet.
He’s an amiable bloke. Massive but amiable. Like many NRL stars who find their way to these shores he’ll take as much time as you have to speak with you. Having just begun to find his feet he has been walking about the city trying to get his bearings in his own time while sharing an apartment with team-mate David Berthezene, who he already knows from two years playing in France a few years back.
“I was walking to The Willows from the Quays and there were these kids, only young, but acting all tough. I went past them and all this stuff starting to fly past me, they had some kind of slingshot. So I stopped and turned round. It stopped pretty quick.” he grins.
“I already love it here though. The people at the club are so friendly and it’s a good bunch of blokes but it’s obvious to me we are going to have to work a lot harder in the remaining games.
“I’m here to play footy week in week out, be happy and be a part of the team and make a lot of new friends. I was speaking to Kylie last night, we’re all really close and he loves it here and we’ll be hooking up soon enough on Friday. There will be no friendship on the field though, I promise you that.”
Phillip is noted as a latecomer to the game. He won Cronulla’s Rookie of the Year in 2005 at the age of 28 after returning Down Under after a stint in France.
“I came back to New Zealand and joined the police. I never thought I had the ability to make it at the top level but all of a sudden my manager called me up and said were were going to Australia for a shot at the NRL. I played a season with Newtown Jets and half way through signed up with the Sharks and was lucky that they gave me the game time. I have actually applied to join the New South Wales police too. I was waiting for the paperwork to come through when this came up so I guess they’ll be writing to me even though I’m not there now!”
With his family arriving in September Phillip isn’t intending to head back to New Zealand after the season, choosing instead to front up to the British winter.
“It’s been nice since I arrived, It’s been getting hotter but I’m still walking around with a jumper on and people keep staring at me. I’m looking forward to seeing snow though. That would be cool.”
We asked him what his thoughts were about his debut in the defeat to Hull KR last Friday.
“The atmosphere was crazy. I knew it was going to be like that because James had told me. He told me to just block it all out. We see the English Super League on telly back home and know it’s noisy with a great atmosphere but we can’t tell what the fans are singing or chanting. It’s fantastic, the fans are so close to the field at The Willows, they really could make a difference to the boys.
“The game was hard, I was really feeling the effect of the flight in the second half and all I seemed to be doing was running backwards to get back the 10 metres. We didn’t wrestle them enough. It was our own fault and our play the balls were way to slow. We’ve been in all week working on it all and hopefully we’ll see a lot of improvement this on Friday night. How far away is Leeds?”
Phillip Leuluai was talking to Paul McNally
Bomber’s Command
July 20, 2007 by Paul Mc · Comments Off
The Reds face Bradford Bulls this weekend in Round 21 of the engage Super League and with only eight games remaining they will be looking to change their current run of luck.
Seven weeks into his role as head coach at Salford Shaun McRae has taken steps to bring new faces into the team and talked to media manager Kate Parkinson about his expectations and disappointments over the coming weeks starting with the game on Saturday. With the Bulls backing up after three big wins the head coach is under no illusions what the Reds are up against this weekend,
‘Bradford have had a tremendous run just recently and are certainly prepared for this game although we do have one advantage in the fact that they play in the Challenge Cup Semi final the week after. However the Bulls will come out fighting and our levels have to improve and this is a challenge the players will have to rise to.’
With the recent changes at the club, including the introduction of Shaun and the departure of Jimmy Lowes to Warrington the head coach has been keen not make sweeping changes since his arrival,
‘I’ve been reluctant to make massive changes with such a short run of the season left but I’ve made changes to the structure of the training week and small changes to the play of the game.’
There has however been three new signings this week, all of them on course to play this weekend.
‘I’m not in the habit of signing players and then not playing them, so all three new signings will be on the field this weekend. Mike Wainwright comes to Salford with a lot of experience under his belt and a very valuable player. Tom is an experienced Super League player and has also been at Hull plus has Challenge Cup experience also. I signed Richie from Gateshead during my time at Hull and he had two great seasons with us. He is a fine athlete does a great job on the wing and at the moment there is a shortage of quality outside backs.’
At a training session this morning (Friday) the team did not need reminding that they are bottom of the Super League table, but seem determined more than ever to work with their coach put the training in and position themselves to win games.
‘Where you are and what is at stake motivates players. We’ve not had a great couple of games – Wakefield was a bad day at the office and with no play for three weeks we possibly lost momemtum. Warrington however is a different story. I thought we would fight back and that did not happen so I was extremely disappointed. We are well aware of the pressures of Super League and I need the players to compose themselves and focus on their roles and responsibilities.’
A conversation between the two coaches at the Halliwell Jones after the game, had Paul Cullen admitting to having his strongest team out this season with several players back from injury. However supporters will feel the Reds’ could have done more and Shaun is very much aware how passionate the Reds’ fans are.
‘In the short time I have been here I understand what the team means to the Salford people and the frustration that comes when your team is not performing, but I ask all the fans to imagine how the team feels. They have feelings and are currently upset with themselves for the position they find themselves in. They are determined to play the best they can turn the situation around and continue to need the support of everyone out there. I have a good bunch of men who are passionate about their game and will strive to do their best on Saturday.’
Current Injuries
Paul Highton / Ian Sibbit – Calf Strain
David Hodgson - Medial Ligament damage
Mark Edmondson – Ankle ligament damage
Lee Jewitt - Broken ankle
Karl Fitzpatrick – Achilles
In the Hotseat with Iain Watson
June 5, 2007 by Paul Mc · Comments Off
RedPlanet sits down with new board member Iain Watson to find out his thoughts on a turbulent first few weeks as a director, as well as his hopes, dreams and aspirations for the club he now helps to steer.
Already well known to a sizeable portion of the Reds support, Iain Watson’s public profile within the club is about to rise dramatically. Invited to join the board at a time when some might have said the club was in crisis it would have been easy to turn the offer down, however Iain is made of sterner stuff than most and saw this as the opportunity to ‘live the dream’ at a club he has always supported.
“My mum and dad were from Salford. I was born and bred in Prestwich and I live in Prestwich now, but my dad first brought me down to Salford as a two year old after his dad brought him down as a two year old, so you could say it’s in the blood really. I love the game and I love the club – it’s been a big part of my life. I grew up with the team in the 70s who were outstanding to watch – they were absolutely brilliant, and we’re all hoping we can get back to that one day soon. I think we will. I think the future is very, very bright – certainly as bright as any other Super League club.”
For those who don’t know, Iain is the ‘Watson’ part of Godliman & Watson – sponsors of the Reds shirt for the last couple of seasons (http://www.godlimanwatsonhomes.com) – local property developers working extremely hard in the battle to regenerate previously run-down inner-city areas like Salford’s very own Broughton.
“We build 30 or 40 units a year within Salford, Bury, Manchester – those sorts of areas. We try and stay local. It’s the biggest part of what we do – we have other interests, but that’s where we make most of our money. What attracted us to the club from a sponsorship point of view was their community activity. We always wanted to help out – we’ve been blessed ourselves and have always felt that you should put something back into the community. So we try and go out of our way to help wherever we can, whether it’s with the new community centre we’ve built or working with the Salford City Reds Community Department and Foundation to deliver what they’re trying to deliver. I think the Sporting Enterprise program is absolutely outstanding – I’ve seen it delivered in the Secondary Schools in Bury this year and in Salford previously, and I’ve seen it work. It’s brilliaint.”
Anyone who knows Ian Watson even vaguely will tell you that it’s obvious he’s fully committed to his community – his city – and that a strong desire burns inside him to do the right thing – to not just take his money and run. Much like our very own John Wilkinson then? Could we be looking at the heir to the ‘Mr. Salford’ crown?
“We looked at ways of trying to lift our company’s profile when we started building in Salford. We looked at various other sponsorship packages on offer, but obviously being a Salford fan, what we were offered here, especially through the Community side fitted with what we want to do and where we want to take our company – and most importantly, what we want to be associated with. It’s not all about selling houses sometimes, you have to look at the bigger picture and what you can put back as well as take out. I know John has got exactly the same ethos as I have – he’s totally committed, a man I have a great deal of respect for, and along with Howard he’s put a lot into this club and without him obviously we wouldn’t have a club, so from my point of view it’s a privilege to be involved – a childhood dream really.”
Now, with a role to help direct the future of the club – Iain has moved up from simply being a sponsor. We had to ask what direction he would you like to see the club move in (apart from up)?
“With the new stadium in two years and the way that deal has been structured Salford will move from being one of the poorest clubs with one of the lowest salary caps in Super League to being one of the richest with one of the highest caps. That will enable the board to attract better players to a better stadium with better facilities, and we want to be up there – we want to be the best Super League team in Europe. I want the best team, John wants the best team – the whole board wants the best team we can possibly get for Salford.”
Even the diehard fans this year have found it painful to watch at times – any words of support for them?
“Everything that can be done to keep us in Super League will be done, I can assure you of that, and obviously that process is now already well under way. We have nothing to gain by being relegated. We all want to be associated with a successful team and we’ll do everything in our power financially to try and keep us there and to bring in what we need to bring in to ensure that happens. We can’t really contemplate being away from Super League – we’re only just over half way through the season and everyone knows things haven’t gone well. We’ve been hit by injuries and upheaval, but we expect within the next week or fortnight things will start to turn around.”
John’s been here for 25 years – can he see himself doing the same? Or will he be somewhere sunny with his feet up by then?
“I’ll be here. Life’s all about choices. I love the game and I love the club and I’m very fortunate that the family loves the game as well – for us it’s very much a family event. I go home and away with my wife Jane and our three kids – this is where I want to be and this is what I want to be watching. I’ll still be watching Salford in 25 years, involved in the running of the club or not, but I’m enjoying putting something back into the club and I can’t see any reason why that would stop.”
As first weeks go yours was probably one of the more turbulent ones as a new director of any sports club. Do you know what’s hit you yet?
“It was like a baptism of fire! It wasn’t the best week for anybody – nobody wants anybody to lose their job, it’s never pleasant in any business and it’s with a great amount of regret that these things happen, but you’ve got to move on. We’ve got to move on and make sure we remain in Super League. The decision to terminate Karl’s contract wasn’t taken in a panic – we’ve gone through half the season and hadn’t played well. We thought we’d given it time really and to be fair the decision is made for the club – we are only custodians of the club, charged with ensuring it keeps going for both the current and future generations. A club is only as good as its fans and we’re blessed to have some very loyal fans – good supporters – and it’s amazing how much noise they make at away games compared to some of the home fans. For such a small number of people it really makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up when you listen to them.”
With a strong board, hardcore fan base and the best stadium in Super League on the horizon you do wonder where this club could go if you add a successful team into the mix. In five years would you see us challenging for honours?
“I would be disappointed if we’re not. I think the whole board would feel that way. We need to be up there, we know we’ve got a strong case for a franchise, we’ll get the franchise and we need to be challenging. When we move to the new stadium the team will get a lift, the salary cap will lift with the way the deal has been structured and it’s clear to see we’re moving forward. It’s a great time to be involved with the club.”
