Koukash’s patience wears thin as Salford crash out

Salford owner Marwan Koukash hinted that he is running out of patience after watching his side get knocked out of the Tetley’s Challenge Cup.

The millionaire racehorse owner once more turned to Twitter to vent his frustration after Salford went down 30-20 at home to Widnes in a fifth-round tie at the A J Bell Stadium.

“I have done all I can to bring success to Salford,” Koukash said. “The players need to respect the shirt they wear.”

Koukash, who set his expensively re-built side the target of a top-four finish this year, sacked Brian Noble after Salford won just three of their opening seven Super League matches but they have now lost three in a row under his successor Iestyn Harris.

The Red Devils trailed 24-8 until setting up an exciting finish with two converted tries in three minutes but Harris admitted the visitors deserved the spoils. “I thought we got exactly what we deserved if I’m honest,” Harris said. “Rugby league is about attitude and I’d say, certainly in the first half, they wanted it more than us.”

Francis Cummins said it was a massive boost and a huge lesson to his struggling Bradford side after they staged a stirring fightback to earn a place in the quarter-finals as they beat Catalans Dragons 33-20.

The French side led 16-0 after just 13 minutes but Cummins’ team fought back with five tries and 30 unanswered points in less than half an hour either side of half time, to set up a memorable win.

Cummins, whose side have lost their last seven games against fellow Super League clubs and are bottom of the table, said: “I’ve never questioned the character of my players but this is a real boost for the boys – it can be a lonely time when you get written off by everyone. This is a real positive for our club.”