Huddersfield Giants prop Tom Burgess has taken to social media to slam the situation surrounding Salford Red Devils’ round one outing. Salford were beaten 82-0 by St Helens at the Totally Wicked Stadium after naming what can only be described as a second string line-up.
The Red Devils were forced to play a weakened team in round one, as they continue to operate under an imposed sustainability cap of £1.2 million. That cap will be lifted when their takeover has been fully approved and signed off by the RFL, but the Red Devils are still waiting for that green light and that ensured they effectively went into round one with one hand tied behind their backs.
However, rather than name his strongest possible squad, Paul Rowley named a young side made up of reserves and youth players. Joe Bullock, Tiaki Chan and Ben Hellewell were the most senior figures included but they were all named on the bench, in what appeared to be something of a statement.
To make matters worse, the game was televised on BBC Two, ensuring a national audience tuned in to watch Salford Red Devils’ young guns get demolished by a rampant Saints side who remained professional throughout.
As such, criticism has been rife on social media and England international Burgess has given his opinion, insisting the situation should have been allowed to unfold the way it has.
“Whoever decided this was a good look for our game needs to be sacked, feel sorry for those young lads thrown out there! Sort it out,” he wrote on social media platform X.
He continued: “This should never of been allowed to happen! Never mind round 1 of a new season.”
St Helens’ victory was the most one-sided in Super League history as they ran in 15 tries on home soil. Tristan Sailor scored four, Morgan Knowles and Harry Robertson both got braces, while Lewis Murphy, Kyle Feldt, Jonny Lomax, Mark Percival, Joe Batchelor and George Delaney all got over the line, too, as Wellens’ side put Salford’s young side to the sword.
Whoever decided this was a good look for our game needs to be sacked, feel sorry for those young lads thrown out there! Sort it out
— Thomas Burgess (@Thomas_Burgess) February 15, 2025
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Anonymous
February 16, 2025 at 12:52 pm
Since when did Tom Burgess become a representative of RL administration or is he just another member of big mouths who opens his mouth without knowing all the facts.
Anonymous
February 16, 2025 at 4:44 pm
Tom’s point about how this looks is spot on. RL is not at its strongest over here at the moment and one-sided, farcical games like that only damage it more. Compounded by it being televised on BBC. Not knowing the full story is irrelevant to the impact that has. Those responsible for allowing the situation pan out this way should get moved on.
Full of respect for the players from both sides that had to deal with that mess.
Anonymous
February 16, 2025 at 9:49 pm
“Those responsible” ?
Rowley is not responsible for the rules, so who do you mean ?