SALFORD City Reds are back in the big time after winning last season’s Co-operative National League I title.
But coach Shaun McRae’s men have found it tough adjusting to life back in Super League.
Although they opened their top-flight campaign with a home victory over fellow newly-promoted side Celtic Crusaders, they have struggled to find their feet.
But the second-bottom Reds’ two other scalps this year have certainly been notable ones in Warrington at home and Leeds Rhinos away on April 13!
They also secured an excellent win at Hull FC in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup and booked a quarter-final spot in the competition with a 66-4 victory at Batley on Sunday.
MALCOLM ALKER has been a one-club wonder is now established as one of Salford’s all-time greats.
The 30-year-old hooker is tireless and rugged in defence and made history when he became the first player to make 1,000 tackles during a single Super League season.
As captain, he is always inspirational, leading by example and setting the tone for Salford’s defence with a series of determined efforts in every game.
But Alker also holds two tryscoring records at the club. He scored 22 tries during the 2003 campaign, including a four-try haul, and no other hooker in Salford’s history has managed either of those feats.
SHAUN ‘Bomber’ McRae is one of Super League’s most recognisable coaches.
The Australian has been involved in British rugby league since winning the inaugural Super League title with St Helens in 1996.
He then went on to have successful coaching spells at Gateshead Thunder and Hull FC before returning to Australia to become the coach of NRL side South Sydney Rabbitohs.
In June 2007 he returned to England and was tipped as a potential Great Britain coach.
But instead he took over at Salford and last season guided them to the Co-operative National League I title.
