[quote="Mark_P1973":1p362sq2]For once the clubs have seen sense and voted against the firesale of Salford players as IMO it would have only led to a situation in the future where clubs could challenge the cap, because the RFL / SL sanctioned clubs being able to go over the cap / quota when it suited them What i'd like to see now is a plan for Salford to play out the season in SL, whilst securing ownership / funding or whatever needed over the next 12 months. if they stay in SL, then all the better, but i just feel it would be way too much disruption across the board if things changed now with all the fixtures released in the leagues etc. There must also be questions asked about how the club is being run as they have sold players, crowd funded a significant amount of money from their fans, had money early from SL TV money etc, and been allowed to sign players off season but now saying they are still in the s***e[/quote:1p362sq2] Salford have done a good job over the last 2 or 3 seasons of putting the line out there that things are done on a shoestring and it feels a bit like smoke and mirrors. Will they be the biggest spenders in the league? far from it but I've never quite bought in to that narrative, that they seem keen to push. London and Cas are examples of clubs who tried to compete on a shoestring in 2024. Salford deserve to be lauded for savvy recruitment in the last few years and I'm sure they've signed loads of players whose talent outweighs their salaries but it all feels a bit like they've tried to divert attention from them living beyond their means. Circumstances will have meant them getting players like MacDonald, Sneyd, Watkins, Croft, Hastings, Burgess, Nikorima etc for less then what they may have asked for at another time but their salaries will have still been at a reasonable level and in a totally different league to the sort of money on offer at London and Cas last season.

[quote="NickyKiss":1bexz8ev]Salford have done a good job over the last 2 or 3 seasons of putting the line out there that things are done on a shoestring and it feels a bit like smoke and mirrors. Will they be the biggest spenders in the league? far from it but I've never quite bought in to that narrative, that they seem keen to push. London and Cas are examples of clubs who tried to compete on a shoestring in 2024. Salford deserve to be lauded for savvy recruitment in the last few years and I'm sure they've signed loads of players whose talent outweighs their salaries but it all feels a bit like they've tried to divert attention from them living beyond their means. Circumstances will have meant them getting players like MacDonald, Sneyd, Watkins, Croft, Hastings, Burgess, Nikorima etc for less then what they may have asked for at another time but their salaries will have still been at a reasonable level and in a totally different league to the sort of money on offer at London and Cas last season.[/quote:1bexz8ev] i agree, and there's no doubt they have almost become the place for players to resurrect their careers, whilst saying its done with no money, which is a little bit of good marketing from them I have a soft spot for Salford (perhaps because some of my friends are diehards) and dont want to see them going bust, but equally and for the sake of the game, they need to get their house in order.

[quote="Mark_P1973":amwbzx34]i agree, and there's no doubt they have almost become the place for players to resurrect their careers, whilst saying its done with no money, which is a little bit of good marketing from them I have a soft spot for Salford (perhaps because some of my friends are diehards) and dont want to see them going bust, but equally and for the sake of the game, they need to get their house in order.[/quote:amwbzx34] Same here. My partner and all her family are from Salford and I'd like them to win anything we don't. They've done an amazing job of putting a really good squad together these past few seasons and I guess for a total spend less than other teams who aren't doing anything like as well but clearly they cannot afford the money they're spending. That share scheme for the fans, that raised a few hundred grand, was a massive red flag and you can't help but wonder how some of the fans who paid in to that feel about them doing things like pre season trips to Portugal.

[quote="NickyKiss":1ck4nmi0]Same here. My partner and all her family are from Salford and I'd like them to win anything we don't. They've done an amazing job of putting a really good squad together these past few seasons and I guess for a total spend less than other teams who aren't doing anything like as well but clearly they cannot afford the money they're spending. That share scheme for the fans, that raised a few hundred grand, was a massive red flag and you can't help but wonder how some of the fans who paid in to that feel about them doing things like pre season trips to Portugal.[/quote:1ck4nmi0] The killer blow was the Sky deal. Unless we see a turnaround in finances the game is going to go down the plughole. I think the RFL need to bank roll Salford in 2025, if only for the integrity of the sport.

Liam Byrne has signed for Warrington for 2026. Shame to develop him and his prime years be with another team but can’t keep them all. The production line will keep producing.

[quote="NSW":9m5p3dvh]Liam Byrne has signed for Warrington for 2026. Shame to develop him and his prime years be with another team but can’t keep them all. The production line will keep producing.[/quote:9m5p3dvh] Luckily we have the next cab off the rank ready and raring to go in Hill if he kicks on this season (not that he's done owt wrong thus far). It will be interesting to see how this season plays out now. Will Matty Peet keep Byrne on the bench or start to give Hill more time, and Byrne being more of a bit part its clear that Thompson and Havard are starting props, with Mago our impact player, so it could be that Dupree and Hill become our bench instead of Byrne

It's always going to be a balancing act with a squad as good as this one and keeping them all happy, both from a minutes POV and also in terms of salary will be a challenge. Byrne has frustrated at times but there is a good player in there. I think the move to Warrington will be good for him and maybe Burgess can get that week to week intensity out of him, which is the main thing he's missing, with him having months worth of 'meh' performances but the tying it all together for a few games. As already pointed out, it should then be Harvie Hills time to nail down a spot and I think the potential is there for him to be an upgrade.

you'd assume the club were talking to Byrne about a new contract, and its interesting to see that he has made his decision so early under the new rules

[quote="NickyKiss":1uccxesf]It's always going to be a balancing act with a squad as good as this one and keeping them all happy, both from a minutes POV and also in terms of salary will be a challenge. Byrne has frustrated at times but there is a good player in there. I think the move to Warrington will be good for him and maybe Burgess can get that week to week intensity out of him, which is the main thing he's missing, with him having months worth of 'meh' performances but the tying it all together for a few games. As already pointed out, it should then be Harvie Hills time to nail down a spot and I think the potential is there for him to be an upgrade.[/quote:1uccxesf] Pretty much agree wholeheartedly with this. I’ve been a fan of Byrne from the outset and really wanted him to become a consistently dominant prop however, for every good game there are several pretty average games hence why he I’d down the pecking order. Will still be sad to see him exit particularly to Wire. I wish the lad well and hope that he has got himself a decent contract. Hill and Eseh hopefully are now both really committed to getting a lot more game time in 2025. With Cooper gone and Byrne to exit I wonder if the plan is to develop Walters as a prop or maybe move Ellis back to front row duties and moving O’Neil to 13. Difficult decisions for KR and MP but a lot better than just a few years ago where we were “making do” with centres and a lightweight pack. I’m pretty confident that the club will have plans in place already with the departure of Byrne.

Good luck to Liam, he will have seen out his contract and that is good enough for me. It does give us more scope within the salary cap and, given that we have a host of promising youngsters coming through our system we will be in a position to secure them on longer term contracts.

It's difficult for our props as both Thompson and Havard do a lot of minutes. It's set up for a Mago-style impact prop, but not really for someone who also needs long minutes to get into their game as you're waiting for Thompson/Havard to need resting or getting injured.

Good luck to Liam as noted by others a really good player on his day,anyway at least he has some winners medals in his cabinet before his move to Warrington.

Still has a job to do in 2025, let's hope he keeps full focus on his current team, maybe even win another trophy or two to add the ones already won.

Warrington likely offered more money and a place in the starting line up so fair play to Liam Byrne if he's made that choice. It didn't disappoint me to read the news. He's usually solid enough and maybe he's a touch underrated at times but he hasn't progressed as hoped. Maybe a change in environment will get more out of him. Be interesting to see if Harvie Hill ends up better than him. 50/50 on that one. Imagine Wigan's decision on whether or not to recruit a replacement will depend on Sam Eseh's progress.

[quote="MadDogg":3vq4jixb]Warrington likely offered more money and a place in the starting line up so fair play to Liam Byrne if he's made that choice. It didn't disappoint me to read the news. He's usually solid enough and maybe he's a touch underrated at times but he hasn't progressed as hoped. Maybe a change in environment will get more out of him. Be interesting to see if Harvie Hill ends up better than him. 50/50 on that one. Imagine Wigan's decision on whether or not to recruit a replacement will depend on Sam Eseh's progress.[/quote:3vq4jixb] Been told that Wire are chasing Sneyd.

[quote="Zig":kr067fmj]Been told that Wire are chasing Sneyd.[/quote:kr067fmj] I think that would make sense. They obviously signed the lad from London but I don't think he'll be a starter and may be moved between halfback and hooker and then Hayes is coming back from a serious injury. It's very early days for Hayes anyway. He started the season for them last year and I thought he did a solid enough job. The rave reviews on Sky seemed a bit OTT and maybe based on his stature, more than what he was actually producing and I would be worried if Wigan were going with such a young kid as first choice, especially on the back of that injury. Him being dipped in and out and acting as back up to Williams and Sneyd would be no bad thing IMO.

Apparently Hayes got a hamstring so seems the club may have decided to not take more risks.

[quote="rubber duckie":2la6ex4v]Apparently Hayes got a hamstring so seems the club may have decided to not take more risks.[/quote:2la6ex4v] That’s tough on the lad.

[quote="Zig":7gbjsm82]That’s tough on the lad.[/quote:7gbjsm82] It's really tough, as most people have two

[quote="Warrior Winger":3mr5ly5t]It's really tough, as most people have two [/quote:3mr5ly5t] Maybe he’s saving up for the other one. Once he’s got it he can play.

Matty Lees signed for next season?? https://www.wiganwarriorsfans.com/viewt ... 49#p555949

Matty Lees signed for next season?? https://www.wiganwarriorsfans.com/viewt ... 49#p555949

It would be worth it for the meltdown it would cause on Red Vee but I can't see it. I think we've set ourselves up in terms of props to be covered for a good while, without the need to bring anyone in. I think we'll see Byrne leave and Hill move up a spot and then guys like Eseh, McDermott and Makin will fill in behind.

[quote="NickyKiss":2v2k20jr]It would be worth it for the meltdown it would case on Red Vee but I can't see it. I think we've set ourselves up in terms of props to be covered for a good while, without the need to bring anyone in. I think we'll see Byrne leave and Hill move up a spot and then guys like Esh, McDermott and Makin will fill in behind.[/quote:2v2k20jr] i agree, unless the club know that another one of our props is moving on, although i think they are all contracted for next season at least. Byrne was the exception as he was out of contract at the end of the season

I don't understand it if it is true, he would command one hell of a salary and be potentially third/fourth choice

Looks like we are doing business early again, in and out which is very positive. Focus needs to be on a secondrow for 2026. Faz and Isa are well past their prime. Jury still out on Walters. Outside of Nsemba couple of youngsters starting to kick on but we can cope with losing Byrne with what we have already at the club.