From the moment the Red Devils failed to clean up the kick-off they were never really in the contest, the final 50-7 scoreline the comeuppance for a lacklustre performance.

"The boys just didn't turn up in the first half and then we were chasing going into the second half," Red Devils assistant coach Peter Altona.

"I think we just lacked motivation today."

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Why that was, he wasn't really sure, but he felt as soon as they dropped that ball and the Rams got the turnover and started going forward their heads went down.

The performance was a stark contrast to the previous week against Pirates.

They didn't look as assured in attack and compared to the week before were passive in defence and at the breakdown, which allowed the Rams to get the front foot ball that they are so dangerous from. And they paid the price.

"I think just our line speed wasn't fast enough today, we were that five or 10 steps behind Walcha," Altona said.

"Walcha played really really well today, they just kept it really simple and they got the job done."

It didn't help that they weren't really in their half in the first half until the last 10 minutes or so.

When they were able to get down there they showed some good glimpses but the Rams' defence was equal to the task and kept snuffing them out to take a 24-nil lead into half-time.

The Red Devils were unlucky not to go into the break with a try to their name, the magic hands of Rams fullback Ed Churchill denying fullback James Perrett what looked a certain five-pointer.

Dangerous all day, after breaking through the line Perrett combined with winger DJ Morrison to create a two-on-one.

But Churchill read the inside ball back inside to Perrett perfectly and was able to flick the intercept up and regather.

The fullback did eventually give the Red Devils something to cheer about late in the second half.

It was good reward for what was another strong performance with Altona singling out Perrett and Ron Hobden at breakaway as the only two that really stood out.

Half-back Ben Maunder did also provide a rare highlight in the first half, somehow rolling Walcha winger Sam Lomax dead before he could put the ball down for what would have been the Rams' second try.

The Red Devils were missing a handful of players through suspension and injury. That was a factor. A couple of injuries in reserve grade didn't help either with Altona unable to use them.

In saying that, he said the subs that came on did well. But by then it was a bit of a lost cause.

If there was a positive, it is that the Rams showed them where they need to improve.

"I think we can learn from this loss," Altona said.

"It gives us a chance to be a bit more grounded, step back and reevaluate what we're going to try and do for next week and build into round two."

They have Scone at Gunnedah this week before facing Narrabri and Moree to finish the first round.

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