Salford City Reds 18 Hull FC 24: Noble back as Salford turn to former Bulls coach

Owner Marwan Koukash named Noble as Phil Veivers’s successor before the match and the ex Bradford, Wigan, Crusaders and Great Britain coach will be officially unveiled at a press conference tomorrow.

Hunte will now go back to his job as Reds youth boss after seven matches in temporary charge.

“I’ve known Brian was a strong contender from day one and my role has not changed,” said Hunte. “Brian is a great choice and his pedigree speaks for itself.

“He has coached two top Super League clubs and took Crusaders further than anyone imagined.

“He’s a good bloke too and we are all looking forward to the challenge ahead.

“I’m looking forward to working with a world class coach.”

Noble, who watched the match from the stands, is understood to have agreed an 18-month rolling contract and will be in charge for Sunday’s Challenge Cup tie at University of Gloucester All Golds.

On the pitch Hull ran in four tries to leave the Reds one place off the bottom of the Super League table.

Salford made a flying start after Jay Pitts was sin-binned for obstruction with Theo Fages’s long pass allowing Martin Gleeson to put Danny Williams over in the corner after only four minutes and Mark Sneyd booted the touchline conversion.

Salford had notched just one victory in their previous six matches since Hunte was placed in temporary charge.

But they suffered a blow midway through the first half when Adam Neal made way with an arm injury and Hull immediately drew level.

Ben Crooks hacked the ball forward after a pass from Joe Arundel and won the race to the line for Joe Westerman to convert.

Hull went ahead almost straight from the restart with Richard Horne putting Richard Whiting over. Hull dominated possession and should have led by more than 12-6 at half-time.

Peter Gentle’s men increased their advantage early in the second half with Tom Lineham pouncing onto Whiting’s kick and Westerman landing the touchline conversion.

A storming break by Fages gave Salford a lift before Gareth Owen nipped over to cut the gap to 18-12 after 57 minutes.

But Hull could breathe more comfortably when Whiting charged down Sneyd’s clearance kick for his second try.

Whiting hobbled off nine minutes from time but had already sealed the Reds’ fate.

Hull also had Joe Arundel helped off in the 77th minute to take some of the gloss off a hard-earned victory with Jodie Broughton racing the full length of the field for a last-gasp try.

“You can’t put young heads on old shoulders but the youngsters did well,” said Gentle.

“I don’t care how we pick up points and this was always going to be tough.”

Salford: Evalds, Broughton, Gleeson, Gibson, D. Williams, Sneyd, Fages, Neal, Godwin, Griffin, Ashurst, Dixon, Wild. Substitutes: Owen, A. Walne, Emmitt, James.

Hull: McDonnell, Lineham, Arundel, Crooks, Crookes, Heremaia, Horne, Watts, Houghton, Lynch, Westerman, Whiting, Pitts. Substitutes: O’Meley, Bowden, Green, Hadley.

Referee: R Hicks (RFL)