Locke linked with rugby union switch
14:50, 22 February 2015 By Neil Barker
Salford Red Devils Kiwi star Kevin Locke is again strongly linked with a shock move to rugby union and developments appear imminent.
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Bill McLaughlinKevin Locke
Kevin Locke, Salford Red Devils Kiwi full back star, is believed to be on the brink of considering a shock cross-code move to rugby union.

Scottish Rugby Union bosses have confirmed they have been officially told by Salford that Locke will be given their permission to speak with them to see if he is interested in going to play union ahead of the World Cup.

Locke is eligible to play for Scotland.

Mark Dodson, CEO of the Scottish RFU, confirmed at the start of last week there had been an approach from Salford to discuss Locke.

He spoke on the telephone with owner Marwan Koukash.

Dodson was keen to point out no move for Locke who can play either full back or half-back has ever been instigated or led by anyone within the Scottish set-up.

They say they are naturally intererested though if Salford are prepared to unload a player of Locke's class

The ball now appears to be in Locke’s court to decide does he want to stay with Salford and play Super League or chance his arm in union.

There could be developments in the next 48 hours.

He is on a lucrative contract at Salford having joined mid-way through last season from the New Zealand Warriors.

Locke missed Salford’s opening Super League game at Warrington but played against Saints.

He was an early casualty though due to a niggling groin injury.

He has since sought the opinion of a specialist on the injury and had injections.

A move to union would see Locke playing his club rugby in Scotland while he is groomed for the step-up to international level

There is obviously some serious problems with him at Salford. Why after a supposedly great pre season we are offloading (3) players.
There is also, it seems, some serious problems going on at Salford

How many games has he actually played in since he joined?

I want him desperately to be the super star signing he was trumpeted as but unfortunately there has been precious few glimpses of of his brilliance.

If we do let him go it's a big pat on the back for Evalds who I'm sure will become a star in his own right.

Yes Barker keeps linking him with Rugby Union in Scotland i'll be surprised if this happens.
Hock linked with Leigh but again this is from Barker

Fingers crossed we see the back of Gareth Hock today. I was made up when his name was announced as a Salford player back when, but after 12 months of having him at the club it’s evident the bloke his spent. His career is only going one way from here and that’s downwards, strong rumours he’ll end up Leigh – imagine him in the Championship? Worrying thought for all Leigh fans.

Would a fee be paid for him as he's under contract or would we just release him?

Swap for the Docs friend Brierley would be good.

With Hock and Puletua going/gone that's a decent chunk of cap freed up, wonder who's available at this time of the season though.

I would hope he’s just sacked for gross misconduct. Just because the RFL haven’t picked up on his homophobic tweets, I would hope the club have.

Shame about Puletua, I rated him last season. Seems like he has been pushed out for an unfit Scott Taylor, which is a shame given TP is a model professional. I had heard talk that he had cists on his knees and these were causing issues, but his performances last season didn’t indicate so.

Is it confirmed TP is not in the squad for this season or jus this weekend?

[url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-league/news/article/480/9727182/bird-stood-down-by-titans/urlGreg Bird anyone?[/url Like for like swap with Hock...

No, keep Hock and get Bird, then he'd have someone too sell it too

He'll have to avoid prison first. Unless the doc can secure some sort of day release programme to allow him to play.

Marwan Koukash has just confirmed he will allow Locke to go if there is someone out there interested - developments too with Swinton plan - Neil Barker's comments.

Can't understand why we get rid of Locke...is it because this injury never going to go and we have signed another lemon...

If him and Hock do leave then i have full faith in the squad we have got! Evalds is ready to take over the number 1 jersey and our back rowers is probably the strongest point of the team so not worried.

Barker has just put on Twitter that Koukash has confirmed he will allow Kevin Locke to leave if anyone is interested. Scottish RU are subsequently set to hold talks with him and make an offer.

What is going on at Salford? Toughest and best pre-season ever, the team are like a family blah blah blah yet two games in and were in meltdown. Hock and Locke on the way out and Puletua threatening to sue for constructive dismissal.

Only at Salford.

Where have you heard this about Puletua?

I was told this weekend, apparently TP has been informed that he doesn't feature in Harris' plans and therefore wont be considered for selection.

Poor handling of a model professional who has had a great career in RL and deserves to be treated better. At this stage of the season, most clubs are fixed up and I assume TP will have to wait until either injury for example forces another club to look for a replacement etc.

The worst part of all this is the Kiwi contingent of our squad are a very close knit group and I have genuine concerns how the poor handling of both Locke and Puletua will affect the likes of Chase, Tasi and Sa'u.

Not good.

Have we paid our outstanding invoices to K2L marketing yet?

Salford are back!

Don't know anything about this, but isn't the owner of K2L a massive Salford fan. Wouldn't surprise me if we've managed to p*ss him/them off too.

I'm fairly certain the TP story comes from an article in the MEN of about 10 days ago.

My only concern in releasing Hock is that he is a very good player and therefore could be extremely effective against us. So why release him to another SL side; release him to RU and we would not have to watch him hunting down our centres (as he did every time we played Wigan) or opening up our defence with that marvellous off-load. So sefd im to (say) Hull KR or Huddesfield and we would potentially be giving that team a greater capacity to beat us.

I trust the Doc enough too think there is an underlying reason behind his willingness too get let Locke go, you'd think that if the SRU did get him they would have too pay a fee so we might make a decent sum for him

It's horrible too say but Locke looks like he's made of Digestives and as many have pointed out having Evalds waiting in the wings is hardly likely to weaken the side.

As for TP I'm shocked that someone didn't come in for him pre season when it was apparent he wasn't in Harris's plans, it's a shame but there are quite a few players ahead of him since we brought in all the younger forwards in the off season.

If this is all the coach doing then i'm fine with this. I just hope this isn't MK's input as this will not do the morale of the squad any good. There is a lot negativity around the place at the moment.

Pity about TP as i think he looked pretty good back end of the year last season.

Still at the end of the day it's all rumours as nothing has come from MK or the club

So two games into the new season and already we are talking about two of our big players leaving, great.

Yes it's the last thing we wanted. What this club desperately needs is a period of progress and stability. Unfortunately it's one thing after another but surely it has to improve at some point.