Quins v City Reds: Teams

Powell: calling for unity

Defensively we are conceding more points, but we are not too far off.

Rob Powell
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Harlequins coach Rob Powell insists his side must stay strong and keep trusting each other as they bid to get their campaign back on track.

The capital club were Super League’s surprise package in the opening stages of the campaign, winning four of their first five outings.

However since their shock success at St Helens things have quickly unravelled for Quins – they have not managed a win in their last seven games, although they are still only a point outside the top eight in the table.

A leaky defence has been their major issue but Powell – who is in his first season in charge – is confident they can tighten things up.

Compete

“The majority of things we are doing really well, but we have had a few things that we haven’t done quite as well as we were doing in the initial part of the season,” he told Sky Sports News HD.

“Defensively we are conceding more points, but we are not too far off.

“If we stay strong and keep on trusting each other with what we are doing, I’m sure that we will put our defensive things right and be able to compete in games.”

Next up for Quins is a clash with Salford – a side who leaked over a century of points in their two fixtures, against Warrington and Huddersfield, over the busy Easter period.

However, centre Tony Clubb – who helped his team record away triumphs at Saints and also Leeds – acknowledges that this season nothing can be taken for granted in the top flight.

“It’s never a good time to play anyone in Super League,” said Clubb. “You just don’t know what the results are going to be.”

Powell has named an unchanged squad for the fixture against the City Reds. Lee Mitchell made a try-scoring debut in the defeat at Hull KR last Monday after joining Quins on loan from Warrington.

Salford welcome back Chris Nero after the Australian centre or second row missed their clash with Huddersfield last time out.

He comes into the 19-man squad along with Adam Clay, while the Reds will have to do without Mark Henry and Adam Sidlow, who both scored tries against the Giants last time out.

The visitors, who on Friday confirmed the expected departure of head coach Shaun McRae, are looking to bounce back from an awful Easter weekend that saw them lose their two matches by a combined 90 points.

Harlequins squad: Ambler, Bailey, Burnett, Calderwood, Clubb, Dorn, Ellis, Gale, Howell, Koupartisas, Melling, Mitchell, O’Callaghan, Pryce, Randall, Temata, Ward, Wilkes, Williams.

Salford squad: Patten, Broughton, Jewitt, Nero, Anderson, Ratchford, Holdsworth, Cashmere, Godwin, Boyle, Neal, L. Adamson, Wild, Smith, Sneyd, Gibson, Clay, Paleaaesina, Spencer.