After being handed a licence to play in the 2026 Championship season following the successful bid by former player Mason Caton-Brown, Salford have under a month to assemble a playing squad and that could see them target Super League free agents.
The Red Devils went into administration but the RFL invited bids to take on a new Salford club and it was the consortium led by Caton-Brown who were successful, something that was confirmed on Monday.
With less than four weeks until Salford have their first Championship game, Friday, 16th January, Caton-Brown and the club will have to work quick to assemble a squad.
Super League free agents will be an obvious starting point for them so we have listed the Super League players without deals for 2026, who Salford could swoop for.
Which Super League free agents could Salford target?
Aidan McGowan
McGowan was one of three players released by the Giants at the end of the season and he’s still up for grabs. He totalled 17 appearances for Huddersfield and Salford can be sure he’s in shape as he’s been working as a PT over the past few months.
Alec Tuitavake
Tuitavake’s exit from Leigh was confirmed by club owner Derek Beaumont on Facebook with the forward leaving after one season, in which he made 24 appearances.
Ashton Golding
A surprise release by Huddersfield last month saw Golding depart the Giants after five years but he remains available, despite reports having linked him with Leeds – something that Ian Blease shut down.
Bayley Sironen
Sironen was linked with a move to join his brother, Curtis, at St Helens but with Saints having confirmed their squad for 2026, that seems unlikely. As such, the forward remains unattached after his exit from Catalans Dragons.
Brad Dwyer
Someone who is familiar with Salford having joined them on loan in 2025, Dwyer is a player of immense experience and still has plenty to offer. His time with Leigh has come to a close and a move to the Championship could make sense.
Ethan Clark-Wood
Signed at late notice by Leeds after Maika Sivo suffered a season-ending injury in pre-season, Clark-Wood made just one appearance for the Rhinos and was released at the end of the year.
Isaac Shaw
Another on this list who spent time with Salford, making a total of three appearances after his time at Wakefield Trinity came to an end. After his mid-season release from Trinity, he had been on trial with Castleford but doesn’t have a deal anywhere for 2026 as it stands.
Jack Darbyshire
Darbyshire left Leigh at the end of the 2025 season and he’s another on this list who did spend time on loan at Salford.
Jack Potter
Potter left Hull KR to join York Knights in 2023 but he played just three times for them and now doesn’t have a deal with them in Super League.
Jack Walker
The former Leeds Rhinos, Hull FC, and Hull KR man is another incredibly experienced player and did sign with Salford last year, putting an agreement in place for 2026. Whether that deal is honoured remains unclear with Walker recently speaking to Serious About Rugby League about his situation.
James Farrar
The former Hull KR man left York Knights are spending just one season with the club.
Lachlan Fitzgibbon
Another of those to depart Warrington is Australian forward Lachlan Fitzgibbon, who was confirmed to be heading back down under when Wire announced his release. Whether a move to the Championship could tempt the second-rower to return is to be seen.
Liam Watts
Watts made just eight appearances in his second spell at Hull FC, leaving the club at the end of the season, aged 35. His experience could be invaluable to a club in a rebuild like Salford with Watts reportedly keen to play on in 2026.
Nolan Tupaea
Tupaea finished the season on loan with Halifax Panthers but after his release from Warrington, he’s not landed a permanent deal anywhere for 2026.
Tex Hoy
Hoy left Castleford Tigers last month to return to Australia having spent a season and a half with the Tigers after joining from Hull FC.
Will Roberts
Another young Super League talent who saw opportunities with his parent club (St Helens) limited, however, he impressed whilst on loan at Widnes Vikings. Linked with York Knights, nothing has been confirmed there so he remains a free agent as it stands.
Zac Bardsley-Rowe
The youngster was one of several released at the end of the season by Warrington and despite never playing a competitive game for the Wolves, he has played in the Championship and League One on loan so could be a viable option for Salford.
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