Start Of Salford Revival?
Mark Henry reckons Salford's new era will get underway tonight. (Friday 3 June)
Yesterday they ended their exhaustive search for a new coach by appointing little-known Australian Matt Parish as Shaun McRae's successor.
Parish is currently working as assistant coach to New South Wales and will not take up his position until after State of Origin ends in mid-July, but Henry expects his impact to be immediate.
The Reds have toiled since McRae left due to ill health in April and they host the Wildcats at The Willows tonight 11th in the Engage Super League.
Henry said:
'I think whether you are off-contract this year or here for the next few years, players are going to want to impress and fight for their positions.
'I think that will bring the best out of us.
'We have got some great players and it is up to us now to start showing what we can do and I think we will.
'Wakefield have had their ups and downs as well but you know they are going to give 100%.
'We have got to be ready to come out and play but we have got the team to get back to winning ways against them.'
Henry made an impressive return after a month on the sidelines by scoring a hat-trick in last week's loss at Bradford.
It was a timely reminder to the club of his talents as he approaches the end of his contract and he now hopes to catch Parish's eye.
In that he may have an advantage, however, having worked with Parish previously.
'I spent three years with Matt at North Queensland Cowboys,' Henry said. 'I had a lot of time for him and I think he had a lot of time for me.
'He helped me progress from reserve grade to first grade and you always remember the coaches that helped you make that step.
'When I heard about this I thought it was going to be a positive thing for the club, although I was surprised - his name wasn't really mentioned in the media.''
Phil Veivers, who will stay on to work under Parish, remains in caretaker charge for the visit of the Wildcats.
Elsewhere tonight, leaders Warrington can become the first team to score 100 tries in Super League this season by crossing once against bottom side Crusaders.
Victory would also take them two points clear but St Helens will hope to keep up the pressure as they host Leeds at the Stobart Stadium.