Salford Red Devils squad news with Nene Macdonald update amid injury boost and loanee recall

Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley has provided a major squad update ahead of Magic Weekend, including when Nene Macdonald will return, whilst confirming one of the club’s six loanees has been recalled.

The Red Devils had six players on loan, which is the maximum a team can have, but that’s now dropped to five with Rowley confirming that Warrington Wolves have recalled winger Jake Thewlis.

Rowley confirmed that Warrington had recalled Thewlis late on Monday but the Salford boss revealed that he and the staff at the Red Devils were pleased for the 19-year-old, who could now challenge to break into Sam Burgess’ side.

On Thewlis, Rowley said:”He’s been great, hopefully we can get that back going when he’s fulfilled his commitments to Warrington there.

“We’ve enjoyed having him here and if he comes back he’ll be welcome with open arms. That’ll be an ongoing thing and determined by their injury and form at their own club.”

Salford Red Devils injury boost as loan door opens

Rowley had previously noted how the RFL rules capping loans at six per squad and five on a matchday had restricted his side but Thewlis’ exit opens the door for a possible new signing.

On that, the Salford boss said: “That will drop a loan off so we could bring another loanee if we wanted. I think the tough thing is the nature and the timing.

“It’s so difficult to have six people in your team that haven’t done a pre-season with you. Even the simplest of dialogue and vernacular that our team uses is alien to people coming from the outside in.”

As for squad fitness, he confirmed that the club will make a “late call” on Joe Mellor but there is a boost in that Tiaki Chan has overcome the hamstring injury which ruled him out for Round Nine.

Rowley also confirmed that it was an ear infection which ruled our Ryan Brierley for that clash with Leigh, explaining that an infection had been going around the camp.

He explained: “He (Brierley) had an ear infection. There’s been a lot of it in camp. There’s been about four or five lads, weirdly, with the ear infection coming off the back of like a virus, chest infections and stuff like that. So we’ve had a bit of a bit of a illness.”

Despite that, 19 players trained which Rowley claimed was the most they had had in some time in another welcome piece of good news.

When Nene Macdonald will return to Salford

Another piece of good news is that centre Nene Macdonald could now be set to return to the team with Salford well under their £1.2 million restricted cap following the exit of Deon Cross.

Rowley revealed: “I think our whole squad at the minute is working just over a million so we’ve got I think £170,000 left in our cap space or allowance if you like. The team that we fielded at the weekend would have been around £600,000 to £700,00, I’m led to believe.”

Therefore Macdonald can finally be registered in the Salford squad once he returns to the Red Devils after heading Down Under for the birth of his child, something Rowley confirmed had happened today (Tuesday).

He said: “His wife has had a baby, so mother and baby are doing well, so that’s the good news there. But yeah, in essence, Nene could come back in.

“We would expect Nene to be returning early next week. They’ve only had the baby today, so we won’t be badgering him too soon.”

One man who won’t be returning is Chris Atkin, who it has been confirmed has joined Castleford Tigers, following reports.

Speaking before confirmation of his exit, when asked about those reports, Rowley stated: “He’s linked with a move to Castleford Tigers, that is correct. So I think that’s still ongoing,” before confirming that the utility remains unavailable for selection.”

We can confirm Chris Atkin has joined Castleford Tigers.

Everyone at the Club would like to thank Chris for his contributions over his five-year stay and wish him all the best with the rest of his career.

— Salford Red Devils 👹 (@SalfordDevils) April 29, 2025