Salford Red Devils make huge changes as squad named for Wigan Warriors after wages finally paid

Salford Red Devils have named their squad to face Wigan Warriors after initial doubt was cast over whether the game would be played.

There were a number of reasons why there was doubt about the game with the Red Devils’ lack of players being one and the ugly issue of unpaid wages being the other.

It was confirmed earlier that Salford’s players had been paid, albeit a day late with the club typically paid on the last Thursday of the month, and now their squad for this weekend’s game against Wigan has been locked in.

Clubs can lock in 21-man squads which is the common practice for most teams as it allows for late changes, however, just this week we saw Castleford Tigers name a 20-man squad.

Unfortunately for Salford, they have only been able to name a 17-man squad out of necessity with the club hampered massively by wages and the restricted salary cap. That squad confirmation has come via the Super League Match Centre where just 16 players are named, however, Serious About Rugby League understands 17 players have been selected with the website yet to display the 17th man.

Salford Red Devils confirm 16-man squad for Wigan Warriors after wages finally paid

Paul Rowley had confirmed to the media earlier in the week that he had just 15 players fit with three of those set to require painkilling injections, however, the club have called up three of their academy players.

The problem with reliance on academy players is that they will be added to the cap once they play a certain amount of games and given Salford’s well-documented financial issues, it’s simply not something they can afford.

New Castleford Tigers loanee George Hill will debut for Salford whilst Wigan have also allowed for loanee Tiaki Chan to play against them, meaning the Red Devils have been able to name a 17-man squad, though it’s still unclear who that 17th man is.

Finley Yates, Joshua Wagstaffe and James Shields all played in Round One in the 82-0 defeat against St Helens but they’re called upon again to make their second appearances for the club. Matty Foster, who was the 18th man last week, is also part of the squad.

Unless they are the unnamed 17th man, it means that Chris Hill, Deon Cross, Harvey Wilson, Ethan Ryan, Jayden Nikorima and Joe Bullock have all dropped out from the 17-man squad that faced Huddersfield last week, whilst Nene Macdonald, Ben Hellewell and Sam Davis are all fit but unable to be registered on the cap.

Midweek, Paul Rowley said: We’ve got a 25-man squad, it’s cost just under £1.8 million. We’ve got seven injuries and we’ve got three players that aren’t injured who can’t play so that’s where we’re at at present time. You do the maths.”

Salford Red Devils squad: Chris Atkin, Ryan Brierley, Tiaki Chan, Nathan Connell, Matty Foster, George Hill, Esan Marsters, Kai Morgan, Jack Ormondroyd, Justin Sangare, James Shields, Joe Shorrocks, Joshua Wagstaffe, Kallum Watkins, Shane Wright, Finley Yates