Salford left short as new season kicks off

SALFORD will kick off the 2025 Super League season this afternoon unable to call upon the majority of Paul Rowley's first-choice squad.

- TOM BRAMWELL

The Red Devils travel to St Helens for the 5.30pm kick off, which will be broadcast nationally on BBC2, with a 17-man group comprising a bulk of the club's reserve players after the RFL-imposed sustainability cap was not lifted in time to name a fullstrength squad.

Although the takeover of the club was completed last week, final approval has not been provided by the sport's governing body, meaning that the previous £1.2m salary cap spend limit remains in place.

That saw Salford field a limited number of first-teamers in the Challenge Cup third round victory over Midlands Hurricanes last weekend, but several of those who featured last week have been omitted for this opening round clash with the Saints.