What Kallum Watkins said about Salford Red Devils after making Leeds Rhinos switch

Former captain Kallum Watkins has lifted the lid on Salford Red Devils’ financial crisis and his departure from the Super League strugglers, having departed the club to re-sign with Leeds Rhinos.

Watkins became the latest player to leave the cash-strapped outfit when he rejoined his first professional side, Leeds Rhinos, last week on a contract until the end of this season.

The second-rower, who had been with his home city team since 2020, admitted the situation at Salford and uncertainty over the club’s future was “very hurtful” for players, staff and fans and took its toll on the mental health of many of those involved.

After a traumatic pre-season, when the Red Devils were placed in special measures by the RFL, a takeover in February suggested a brighter future, but the expected injection of funds has not yet materialised and a £1.2m spending limit was reimposed by the governing body.

“It has been really tough,” Watkins admitted of his final months at Salford. “I think everyone involved in that situation and that environment at the minute is finding it tough and people have had to take tough decisions, like myself.

“We had a really good group there, we enjoyed each other’s company and we did well as a group. We probably proved a lot of doubters wrong; it is a shame, how the club has been going over the last five or six months is really disappointing.”

Leeds Rhinos signing Kallum Watkins on Salford Red Devils difficulties

Speaking more on the situation at his former club, he added: “It has been very hurtful to everyone involved, players and staff. I just hope something gets sorted very soon and we see a bright future for that club, but I had to make a decision.

“For me, it has made a massive impact on me mentally and my family as well. I am coming to the end of my career and I don’t want to be in limbo and uncertainty at this time in my career. I got an opportunity to come here [to Rhinos] which is something I didn’t think would happen. Things happen for a reason and I am glad to be here.”

Watkins knows not all fans will understand or support his decision to leave, but he insisted: “You have got to look after yourself and your family members, that’s the most important thing. Leaving there, [some] people will probably agree with me going and probably a lot haven’t.

“You can’t please everybody. You have got to go with how you are feeling and what’s number one for you. What’s number one for me is my family and making sure I am in the best place possible mentally and physically as well. I had to make a decision and I feel it’s the right choice for me.”

Watkins feels Salford’s players were kept in the dark over the true situation. He added: “It has been very difficult for everybody. The big thing was the lack of communication.

“That makes everything so uncertain for everybody – players, staff and the fans feel it as well.

“It is a struggle at times. The boys there just want to focus on the rugby, that’s what you do as a player.

“The coaches have tried to push that, but we are all human and we are all in different situations. There’s some young players who are getting some game time, which is probably good for them, but at the same time there’s a lot of uncertainty.

“I just hope everything gets sorted, but the whole situation could have been avoided – [or handled] much better anyway, in terms of the communication from everybody involved. It is a tough situation because it impacts everybody – everyone’s unsure about whether they are going to be paying their bills. I hope everything gets sorted out.”

Welcome back Kallum 🏡 pic.twitter.com/gQwD0MC4r1

— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) April 9, 2025