DREAD DEVILS

Salford's decline really got to Atkin

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CASTLEFORD'S new signing Chris Atkin admits Salford's "awful" situation got too much for him and Super League as a whole needs change.

The England Knights half-back is set for his Tigers debut in Sunday's Magic Weekend derby with Wakefield after becoming the latest player to leave crisis-torn Red Devils.

Months of financial uncertainty at the troubled club, who are still playing under a £1.2m sustainability cap, finally wore him down.

Atkin, who hasn't played in three weeks, said: "It's been such a weird situation there.

"It's been tough. It's taken its toll on every player and credit to the players and staff that kept going and have been able to perform each week.

"But for me, after a few weeks of going through it, it came down to my family.