Hull FC v Salford Red Devils: '˜Bring it on,' says Scott Taylor, as he faces familiar foes

The Black and Whites begin the new First Utility season with a home game against the club who became a laughing stock for their big-spending and dismal results under owner Marwan Koukash.

However, with expensive signings like Rangi Chase and Kevin Locke now long gone, Salford have been more astute with their transfer business since former Australia head coach Tim Sheens arrived.

Radford said: “I think it has been a change of tact in their approach to recruitment; Salford are no longer the galacticos of Super League.

“This time around they have gone for the more solid bloke and more solid player by the looks of it.

“They looked very tidy in pre-season; their edges are very physical and the fact that they get the ball to their outside backs early means they know where their threats are.

“We have got to defend as energetically as we can and make sure we are constantly on the move. It’s going to be a very interesting game.”

Proof of Salford’s approach is the fact Tommy Lee, the unspectacular but hard-working former Hull hooker, is captain in 2016.

Their hosts have recruited some quality professionals, too, not least former Kiwi second-row Frank Pritchard and Scott Taylor, the England prop who was Salford supporters’ player of the year last season while on loan from Wigan Warriors.

Taylor, a lifelong Hull fan who started his career at Hull KR, said: “It was obviously one of the first fixtures I looked out for and I thought ‘brilliant, bring it on’.

“I’ve some good friends there; one of my best mates is Tommy (Lee), another Hull lad.

“I really enjoyed my time at Salford and it improved me as a player, but it’s good to come home and be at my team now.”

Hull won just one of their last eight games last season to finish abysmally and, to turn that around, Radford admitted: “We have some markers that we have to hit with and without the ball.”