Salford thrashed but have hope for better days

The start of a brighter future, or merely another false dawn? Only in the weeks to come will we know just what the latest developments off the field surrounding Salford Red Devils mean, but on it these remain troubling and frustrating times.

- Aaron Bower

The irony cannot have been lost on any Salford fan at the Totally Wicked Stadium yesterday afternoon. Four months ago, they began their season at the same venue amid huge controversy, after the Red Devils chose to field their academy side and lost 82-0 in protest against the salary-cap restrictions placed upon them by the Rugby Football League.

At the time there was debate about the merits of those restrictions, but months later they remain in place. Since that day in February, Salford have been taken over, but their financial troubles have continued, with debts mounting up, significant player sales and salaries being paid late.

It is to the credit of the players and staff that they have turned up every week and performed with all of this hanging over their heads. Unsurprisingly, with star players sold and the club borrowing players from other clubs, they have been by some distance the weakest team in Super League in 2025, with just one win.