Every word Salford Red Devils boss Paul Rowley said after controversial squad selection

Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley has explained and defended his team selection after naming just 16 reserve and academy players to face St Helens.

The Red Devils named their squad on Thursday after confirming that they would still have to operate under the RFL-enforced £1.2 million salary cap, despite the club being taken over.

The RFL have been unable to process and ratify that takeover meaning that the Red Devils must remain under a restricted salary cap, something that was enforced when Salford requested a £500,000 advance on their central funding in November.

Despite playing stars such as Nene Macdonald and Jayden Nikorima in the Challenge Cup against Midlands Hurricanes, Salford did not name those players to face St Helens with their matchday squad only featuring 16 players – 13 of whom were academy or reserve players.

Pundit Jon Wilkin had argued on Sky Sports that the Red Devils had “thrown the teddies out” but Salford head coach Paul Rowley has explained everything in a lengthy BBC interview before the club take on St Helens.

Every word Salford Red Devils boss Paul Rowley said after controversial squad selection

The boss on pre-match duties with @BBCSport 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/3pHw7w6jnn

— Salford Red Devils 👹 (@SalfordDevils) February 15, 2025

When did he find out he £1.2 million cap was still in place?

“I found out about an hour before we had to put the squad in.

“I’d just come out of an MRI scan for my shoulders so it was a difficult moment, I’ll be honest.

“We’d read the narrative and properly had a miscommunication across many fronts but our club certainly had the impression and was given the impression that we had a full team to select from and we had trained as such.

“We had done our main session if you like and squad declaration came on a day off so it became a very difficult process.”

Why couldn’t Salford name the same side that faced Midlands Hurricanes?

“Well I couldn’t play the Midlands Hurricanes squad because we’ve got injuries. We’ve got 17 players who featured in that game at a salary cap of £1.2 (million).

“We weren’t under the impression or informed at that point that the people who played in that game would have to remain the same £1.2 (million). We ended up resting several players i.e. Kallum (Watkins), Sneydy (Marc Sneyd) and Tim Lafai.

“We presented two squads this week to the RFL, one with 15 players that was strong and included Kallum, Tim and Sneydy etc but then we were informed that the governance was rigid regarding those players not playing because they hadn’t played last week.

“It then becomes difficult then if you get injuries because if you have 17 players playing every week, you’re inevitably going to get some injuries there.

“So it actually made it physically to name a squad but I believe I turned out a 15-man team and presented it to the RFL that we believed could come and win.

“That was discussed at the RFL and got informed that it wasn’t going to be accepted after team run yesterday so there was discussion for it to get far. There was an appetite for it to work.

“Nobody wants to put our great game on this stage and not have our strongest team. We were under the impression and still believing and hoping that we could play our main players.”

Does he understand the criticism?

“I can’t exactly say I’m comfortable sitting here and fielding these questions. I was going to come here and do every interview and cop everything on behalf of our players, I wish we’d got as much attention over the last three and a half months of turbulence and uncertainty.

“(There was) bad behaviour from certain quarters towards our players but they’ve been absolutely fantastic and I think at the 11th hour, we thought we’d got past the finish line. The wages have been paid, the lads have been paid in full.

“We’ve bought the Ferrari, it’s in the garage and the fuel is there but no one will let us drive it.

“There’s no logic in that. Is it a punishment or is a safety measure put in place for the club but ultimately it’s the players and staff that suffer.

“I’ll sit here and say I think there is a lot of factors. It’s a complex acquisition, it’s never happened before so I think we should all accept some accountability.”

Could the situation have been avoided?

“I’ll accept some (accountability), if I was to do everything again then I think time would have been better not just half an hour before declaration. To try and buy some time or ask for time to have at least one face to face meeting so we can find resolutions together, and not over the phone or via emails.

“We want to show the game on the BBC in the best way that we can. Our boys wanted to come here. This is the first time I’ve seen our boys absolutely rattled. We’ve got over the finish line and somebody has put another 100 metres on it.

“They’re devastated. It wasn’t a good position to be in with the injuries. We’d have had to put half a team of reserves in with the first team and we’d be introducing them (to each other) on the bus to the game so is it better to have the individuals or the team? It’s a catch 22.

“My job is to protect my players and I can’t speak highly enough of them. If that means me sitting here and taking some bullets, I’m not comfortable doing it but I’ll do it nonetheless and I’ll be proud of them.”