Salford Red Devils have already seen two of their star players depart with Brodie Croft and Andy Ackers linking up with Leeds Rhinos, however Paul Rowley’s men could have a fight to hang on to their star full-back Ryan Brierley with the club rejecting a second bid it’s been revealed.
It had been reported by Rugby League Live that Brierley was the subject of an offer that had been rejected, however Sky Sports’ Jenna Brooks has now taken to X, formerly Twitter, to confirm the club have knocked back a second bid for the Scotland international.
Brooks revealed the information via X, confirming she’d spoken with Brierley who is simply focusing on pre-season as opposed to speculation.
“Salford reject 2nd bid for @RyanBrierley …. I spoke to him earlier and he says his only focus is on getting fit for the start of the season with @SalfordDevils @SkySportsRL,” Brooks shared on her social media.
The Red Devils have already seen two of their starting spine depart when Croft and Ackers left for Headingley but losing a third element would be near catastrophic for the club.
Salford’s identity under Paul Rowley has been very much based on that core group of spine players being fit and available and the departure of Brierley would be devastating for the club.
The full-back is coming off a brilliant season, one in which he stepped up the defensive side of his game far more, whilst also still being a threat as a runner from backfield. Missing just one game all season the Scotland international recorded nine tries and nine assists throughout the 2023 Super League season.
Keeping hold of their star players must now be at the top of the priority list for Salford with the reported £300,000 influx of cash from the sale of Ackers and Croft, as well as the fee earned when young prop Tyler Dupree moved to Wigan, meaning that retaining and recruiting should be a focus for the Red Devils.
They’ve already signed former Leeds Rhinos centre Nene Macdonald for the upcoming campaign, but attention must now turn to replacing their star hooker and half-back, whilst retaining the likes of their stars such as Brierley and Marc Sneyd among others.
Paul Rowley will be hoping to lead his team back into the playoffs in 2024 following 2023’s disappointment that saw them finish seventh, just missing out on the final playoff spot to Warrington Wolves.
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