Andy Ackers confirms major Toronto Wolfpack unpaid wages update and talks Salford Red Devils’ exit

Leeds Rhinos hooker Andy Ackers has spoken about former clubs Salford Red Devils and Toronto Wolfpack, assessing his Red Devils’ exit and providing an update on the unpaid wages from Toronto.

Ackers joined Leeds Rhinos ahead of the 2024 with he and Brodie Croft swapping Salford Red Devils for Leeds Rhinos in a major move that was a massive blow to Paul Rowley’s side.

Over a year on from that deal, Salford’s financial situation has made it clear why the club had to sell their stars with the Red Devils under special measures due to their financial issues.

Whilst Ackers got out of the club before the financial issues came to a head, he had joined the Red Devils after getting out of another club who went through financial ruin.

That was Toronto Wolfpack who ended up withdrawing from Super League in their first season due to financial hardships, worsened by the Covid pandemic. They would cease operations later that year but the matter of unpaid wages remained a major issues.

Toronto Wolfpack wages to be paid by the end of May

Ackers was one of those affected but he’s now confirmed that funds are set to be paid by the end of next month, almost five years after the fact with the Leeds Rhinos man confirming that when appearing as a guest on Sky Sports’ The Bench podcast.

“We’ve received a lot of compensation payments over the years but the GMB have been doing a really good job for us acting on our behalf,” Ackers explained to former Toronto teammate Jon Wilkin, who co-hosts the podcast with Jenna Brooks.

“We had 50% of it last month and we’re due 50% of it next month as well so hopefully we get it.”

Wilkin confirmed that having not joined the GMB, he had not been compensated, though he did applaud the GMB and specifically Gareth Carvell for his efforts in getting money for those affected Toronto players who sought GMB support.

Two men still at Salford who were also involved with Toronto are head coach Paul Rowley and Ryan Brierley, with both now undergoing similar stories of fearing unpaid wages and facing uncertain futures.

Ackers explains how difficult Salford Red Devils exit was

Questions have been asked of whether the writing was on the wall for the Red Devils and Ackers was asked that with the England international also talking about his Salford exit.

He explained: “When Tyler left, we’d all signed big deals so with him going you think something’s dropped here, what’s going on? I think we’d just finished the season and there was talks of Brodie going and it went from there.”

Dupree left to join Wigan months after signing an extension whilst Croft had signed a multi-year deal but the rumours of his exit soon started with Leeds later swooping for both him and Ackers.

On his exit, Ackers explained the need to look for stability as he said: “I personally said that I’d like to go and 24 hours or 48 hours later, it happened quick and one of the hardest phone calls I had to make was to Paul Rowley.

“His interest and development in me meant it hurt my feelings to make that phone call and tell him.”

On the Red Devils, and particularly Paul Rowley, Ackers added: “They did a lot for me and I put a lot of that down to Paul Rowley. He’s not just done that with me but look at Brodie, he turned him into a Man of Steel within 12 months. That’s the calibre of coach he is and I hope it gets sorted for him.”

Rowley has recently argued that he can turn Salford’s season around very quickly if the restrictions to the club’s salary cap is lifted, however, there is no clear timescale on when that will happen.