The Managing Director of Rugby League Commercial has had his say on the chances of Salford Red Devils finishing the Super League season, with Rhodri Jones claiming that last night’s announcement from the club was “encouraging”.
After Salford cancelled their game against Wakefield Trinity that was scheduled for Sunday, the Red Devils released a statement to confirm that they would be able to field a team with the requisite experience this Friday when they take on Leigh Leopards.
Salford had argued that they had to cancel the game against Wakefield on the basis of player welfare with just two of their proposed squad having Super League experience over the past 12 months.
That cancellation has cast doubt over the club’s ability to finish the current season whilst it also put a major shadow on the sport’s broadcast agreement with Sky Sports, in which six games are required to be shown every week, and RL Commercial’s Rhodri Jones has now spoken on that TV deal and the impact of Salford’s failure to complete.
No talks with Sky Sports over Salford Red Devils folding
Obviously, with Sunday’s cancellation, only five games were aired last week and Jones was asked about that and whether the sport would be ‘financially ruined’ or if Sky would ask for some form of compensation.
Jones responded: “It’s never a conversation I’ve been party to with Sky in the liaisons that I’ve had with them over the course of the season when talking about Salford.
“They’ve been fully aware of the challenges that we faced and Salford have faced and as you would expect, I speak to them on a very regular basis to make sure they’re across it.
“We’ve never had the conversation about what happens if they go and what would the consequences, and dare I say, punishments would be.”
Those conversations may have to take place now after Sky obviously missed out one of their games, however, the outcome of the game is yet to be determined. Whilst the expectation is that Wakefield will be handed a 48-0 walkover win, no decision has been made at the time of writing and it does remain a slim possibility that the game could be replayed, although that is very unlikely.
RL Commercial chief “confident” that Red Devils will finish season
Having confirmed their intent to play this week, it seems that Salford may be able to finish the campaign and Jones was asked to give his assessment of that happening.
He explained: “I think last night was encouraging when they said they’ll fulfill Friday’s fixture against Leigh. I think they’ve got Warrington the week after as well so I think it’s a week to week thing.
“I’m confident that they and everyone else around the game will work to get them through the next five fixtures.”
That could mean more clubs loaning the Red Devils players and rules possibly bent once again with the transfer deadline coming next Thursday, with Salford still having four games left to play beyond that date.
Even if Salford do finish the season, it’s clear that their plight has brought negative attention to the sport, not least with the off-field issues but also on-field blowouts as well.
Asked if those such results could impact the upcoming broadcast negotiations given that Sky’s deal expires at the end of the 2026 season, Jones admitted that it could ‘potentially’ have an impact but he insisted that the focus is on delivering the best commercial results for the remainder of the year.
He argued: “We can only control what we can control so let’s make sure that we don’t sit here in December and have regrets about not delivering some exceptional numbers.”
James
August 19, 2025 at 7:32 pm
Hasn’t this been the whole point that the ghost of SRD would complete the season in SL unambitious world.