Following an off-season that has seen them lose two of their star players to Leeds Rhinos, Salford Red Devils travel to Headingley tonight to get their 2024 Super League campaign underway.
It has been a turbulent year for the Red Devils who missed the playoffs marginally but have also lost a number of their most talented players, two of whom they’d previously tied down with long contracts.
The most notable of these is Brodie Croft who had penned an eight-year deal with the club only to leave alongside Andy Ackers in the off-season, the duo joining Leeds Rhinos.
Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin even went as far as to suggest that the Rhinos effectively got Ackers as part of a “buy one, get one free” deal, claiming Salford Red Devils had their “pockets pinched”.
Another important player that the club lost was young star Tyler Dupree who headed to Wigan Warriors in exchange for Brad Singleton and cash, Dupree having committed his future to the club with a new contract just weeks earlier.
Fast forward into the off-season and Paul Rowley’s side also lost their two starting wingers with Ken Sio released on compassionate grounds before Joe Burgess was cut due to “misconduct”.
In turn, the Red Devils have only been able to name a 24-man squad for the upcoming Super League season, however, they have boosted that by the acquisition of exiled NRL winger David Nofoaluma.
Even so, the major changes and limited squad mean Salford Red Devils will begin their 2024 Super League campaign tonight with plenty of questions hanging over them, something Sky Sports pair Brian Carney and Jon Wilkin have highlighted.
“They’re going to have to reinvent themselves” – Sky Sports pundits concerned for Salford Red Devils ahead of new Super League season
Losing talisman Andy Ackers as well as ex-Man of Steel Brodie Croft and their two starting wingers means Salford Red Devils will have to “reinvent themselves” according to Sam Tomkins. – Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
One recent boost for Salford Red Devils is that they’ve been able to resolve their stadium problem, something that will now see them escape the risk of dropping below minimum standards.
However, those notions of positivity from their stadium resolution and the signing of Nofoaluma might not last long if the bubble is burst with defeat on the road tonight against Leeds Rhinos.
Sky Sports presenter Brian Carney even flagged up the club’s ability to keep their head coach Paul Rowley, a man who has at times worked wonders on a budget to produce some of Super League’s most entertaining rugby.
Carney said: “When I mention Salford, what I get back is they’ll be doing well to hold on to Paul Rowley. Yet again, his squad has been ravaged.
“They’ve had to sell Brodie Croft and Andy Ackers and that was a devastating late decision by the club. Paul Rowley of course was disgruntled with it but he has gone on rolled his sleeves up and this week was able to bring in David Nofoaluuma which will be a big boost for them.”
Sam Tomkins went on to suggest that Salford Red Devils will have to “reinvent themselves” on account of the huge squad losses.
Tomkins noted: “Salford have been known over the last few years for an amazing attack. They attack from anywhere in the field, you see them breaking from their 20-meter line. That’s orchestrated by your nine and your six, which they’ve lost.
“The guys that finish it, Ken Sio and Joe Burgess, they’ve also lost. They’ve lost their creators and the finishers of what is their method of attack, so they’re going to have to reinvent themselves this year.”
Jon Wilkin questions job security at Salford
Pundit Jon Wilkin claims there are major “alarm bells” at Salford Red Devils. – Picture by Isabel Pearce/SWpix.com
With such major losses to the squad and the until-recently resolved stadium crisis, it’s been a very difficult period for Salford, but Jon Wilkin doesn’t believe the club are out of it yet.
The ex-St Helens captain argued: “You paint yourselves as underdogs. You paint yourselves as nobody’s favourite team. You’re struggling. Resources are thin etc, but if you tell that story too many times then people get bored of hearing it.
“There’s alarm bells for me. When Tyler Dupree left in the middle of last year the alarm bells started and they’ve just continued ringing.
“For me and for Paul Rowley, I wouldn’t feel very secure as a Salford employee right now.”
Salford have named their squad for the clash with Leeds and they’re set to face their two former stars with both Ackers and Croft named for Leeds Rhinos.
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