Agree with a lot of the above however, I think if there was the slightest chance of a take over or anyone buying into the Salford club in the short or even medium term the clubs would have perhaps held off and granted them more time and perhaps even helped them out, but I guess therefore by their strong actions after a short meeting that's not the case and its unlikely to happen. Perhaps even they see Salford as a lost cause!!! The clubs always think about themselves but the fact that they ruled, in the first instance, against a free for all and rather restricted deals for their players to clubs with cap space left, indicates that they perhaps feel betrayed buy the lack of openness of Salford and now their main concern is for the competition, their television commitments and the fixture list being intact and honoured by all 12 clubs. With the caveat included about further changes ie cap expansions etc. being an option points to the fact that getting the £700,000 one way or another is an imperative. As I said previously the whole fully professional game is on the edge here and we have to find a way of resolving things, before the dominoes start to fall and other clubs are impacted. I wonder how many more clubs can sustain the losses they are posting for much longer. I think had Salford come clean at the end of last season when they obviously knew what was to unfold then we would have seen perhaps Toulouse in, in their place, but they have kept their problems under wraps so that now despite their losing players the Super League Clubs have no option but to keep them in the competition for another year. As I say I don't think Salford have been as honest as they could have been. The fact that there are reports in the media that since last Friday the players have been in Portugal on a warm weather training camp is quite frankly mind boggling. You have to feel for the Salford fans don't you they must wonder what the hell is to become of their beloved club. As always they are the innocent ones in all this and will feel quite helpless particularly after all the pledges and whip rounds they have put into the club over the last few years.

[quote="Marcus's Bicycle":1y5rehfn]Override the vote allow the dispensations and save Salford (for now) and ruin the integrity of the competition. Rock and hard place.[/quote:1y5rehfn] Exactly. A club with no money or a club with no team - neither works. The only thing that’d help is new investment. I think it is probably the best of the bad available options to let nature take its course. Remembering what ‘help’ did to Bradford, for example. If the worst happens they’ll likely do something similar to when Crusaders went under.

I’d have thought that if Salford lost their 4-5 top earners, that would easily cover the £700k cost reduction. Of a player’s base salary is £100k, then by the time you add in NI, car and house allowances (these are allowable outside the cap), then you are looking at nearer £140-150k. Therefore, it may be that they let 7-8 top earners go and bring in some cheaper replacements or loans. It will make Salford much weaker, but hopefully gives them time to get a new buyer.

[quote="Rugby Raider":4cagbdd4]I’d have thought that if Salford lost their 4-5 top earners, that would easily cover the £700k cost reduction. Of a player’s base salary is £100k, then by the time you add in NI, car and house allowances (these are allowable outside the cap), then you are looking at nearer £140-150k. Therefore, it may be that they let 7-8 top earners go and bring in some cheaper replacements or loans. It will make Salford much weaker, but hopefully gives them time to get a new buyer.[/quote:4cagbdd4] They need 700k asap as reported, not overtime, hence why the fire sale in imminent

Surely we offer Lane Fash Sao for a player swap ! We get McDonald then as Sao disappears and the above 4 wages aren’t that much compared to McDonald We need a CENTRE and a Stand Off Not a 35 year old scrum half in Sneyd

all this fighting over McDonald and other overseas Salford players, nobody considered they maybe asked to be released from their contracts to return back to Oz for the 2025 season, then be open to sign for clubs next season (if they already haven't)

[quote="Tarquin Fuego":nzhy1fdr]Surely we offer Lane Fash Sao for a player swap ! We get McDonald then as Sao disappears and the above 4 wages aren’t that much compared to McDonald We need a CENTRE and a Stand Off Not a 35 year old scrum half in Sneyd[/quote:nzhy1fdr] I can imagine that moving to a club in financial difficulties may not be hugely appealing to Lane, Fash and Sao.

[quote="Tarquin Fuego":14awi0a7]Surely we offer Lane Fash Sao for a player swap ! We get McDonald then as Sao disappears and the above 4 wages aren’t that much compared to McDonald We need a CENTRE and a Stand Off Not a 35 year old scrum half in Sneyd[/quote:14awi0a7] What would be in it for the players? I can’t see any players from any SL club wanting a swap as who’d want to risk not getting paid but especially 3 players based or settled in Hull. Also I know it was last season but Macdonald was there the Sky research had Salford’s wage bill down as ridiculously low, only just higher then part time London. Swap deals with established SL players won’t likely work for Salfords financial situation because the players coming in likely wouldn’t be far off what they pay ‘stars’ like Macdonald anyway.

[quote="Mild Rover":1c10cgjh]I can imagine that moving to a club in financial difficulties may not be hugely appealing to Lane, Fash and Sao.[/quote:1c10cgjh] Exactly some fans think it easy, click your fingers and you can get rid of players and replace them.

I don’t think it’s easy to offload players It’s an idea - a suggestion - a hint at some of the baggage we’re still carrying The truth is that some swap deals would interest Salford - they will still need full time professionals albeit on lower salaries Let’s see what happens but fwiw I’d love to see us replace Lane Fash and Sao, and the sooner the better

[quote="Tarquin Fuego":1cx6b8is]I don’t think it’s easy to offload players It’s an idea - a suggestion - a hint at some of the baggage we’re still carrying The truth is that some swap deals would interest Salford - they will still need full time professionals albeit on lower salaries Let’s see what happens but fwiw I’d love to see us replace Lane Fash and Sao, and the sooner the better[/quote:1cx6b8is] I can't see lane or fash leaving. I'm pretty sure they'll get new deals. Sao will come off the quota for 2026 so depends what kind of season he has but he's our 2nd best prop IMO, just needs to sort out his discipline which should be better if he and the rest of the team are fitter anyway. Also will be played solely at prop hopefully as he's not mobile enough for 2nd row

[quote="Jake the Peg":gwaagr3a]I can't see lane or fash leaving. I'm pretty sure they'll get new deals. Sao will come off the quota for 2026 so depends what kind of season he has but he's our 2nd best prop IMO, just needs to sort out his discipline which should be better if he and the rest of the team are fitter anyway. Also will be played solely at prop hopefully as he's not mobile enough for 2nd row[/quote:gwaagr3a] I'm hoping that under Cartwright we see an improved version of Sao this season. On his day he can be a very good player. He just needs to focus on running straight and hard and not looking for an offload every single tackle. But mainly get his discipline sorted. I got the feeling last year a lot of his poor discipline and errors where through frustration over the teams poor displays (which yes, will be argued his errors and penalty's were contributing to). I think he was just trying to force plays or Big hits a bit too much to swing momentum or get something going. Like everything with the team last year, it just wasn't coming off. Big year coming up for him if he wants to earn a new deal, either at Hull or elsewhere. I'm also willing to give Lane another year before totally giving up in him. There's a player in there and if Cartwright has improved fitness and conditioning he will be one of the lads to see a big benefit.

[quote="Hasbag":4sb34qkx][quote="Jake the Peg":4sb34qkx]I can't see lane or fash leaving. I'm pretty sure they'll get new deals. Sao will come off the quota for 2026 so depends what kind of season he has but he's our 2nd best prop IMO, just needs to sort out his discipline which should be better if he and the rest of the team are fitter anyway. Also will be played solely at prop hopefully as he's not mobile enough for 2nd row[/quote:4sb34qkx] I'm hoping that under Cartwright we see an improved version of Sao this season. On his day he can be a very good player. He just needs to focus on running straight and hard and not looking for an offload every single tackle. But mainly get his discipline sorted. I got the feeling last year a lot of his poor discipline and errors where through frustration over the teams poor displays (which yes, will be argued his errors and penalty's were contributing to). I think he was just trying to force plays or Big hits a bit too much to swing momentum or get something going. Like everything with the team last year, it just wasn't coming off. Big year coming up for him if he wants to earn a new deal, either at Hull or elsewhere. I'm also willing to give Lane another year before totally giving up in him. There's a player in there and if Cartwright has improved fitness and conditioning he will be one of the lads to see a big benefit.[/quote:4sb34qkx] Agree, for me every players that still here for 2025 gets a clean slate and a chance to prove themselves and rightly earn any further deals. The fall out of not just last season but the previous seasons and articles that we have seen this off season about how unprofessional and understaffed things where before takeover has without doubt been a big contributor to what we saw play out on the field. Under a Head Coach that is disciplined and structured in his messages and the whole set up given a root and branch overhaul then its suggests that improvements will be made. Its now up to those players to show that they are not poor players without the frustrations.

Could we just not pay Sao off if we wanted a quota player?

[quote="dandaman":29iyc0c1]Could we just not pay Sao off if we wanted a quota player?[/quote:29iyc0c1] It's a very dangerous game to just keep paying players off. We need to be careful or players won't want to come or think it's an easy ride, sign a 3 year deal don't perform and get a nice pay off. Some players we had no choice, no sure Sao warrants it, as Jake says he is a decent prop on his day. Like been mentioned above, everyone gets a clean slate, off the field has a total shambles last year.

Will we still be looking for another prop? Gone very quiet on that front

[quote="Hullfc-white":3nedidnn]Will we still be looking for another prop? Gone very quiet on that front[/quote:3nedidnn] I'd expect a mid-season signing on the Prop front, unless we try to get Bullock from Salford. I imagine getting Cross and possibly Sneyd over the line will be the current priority.

[quote="dandaman":245w2xw7]Could we just not pay Sao off if we wanted a quota player?[/quote:245w2xw7] If there is a lack of available domestic players for 2026, i can see quota players who immediately become off~quota, be in high demand.

Bower now implying Leigh are the front runners to get Sneyd

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/hu ... e-provided

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/hu ... e-provided

Lam, Sneyd, Ipape and Armstrong will be one hell of spine for Leigh.

As said a couple of days ago, I'm ok not signing Sneyd, something didn't feel quite right and had a Fonua type feel about it. Gives Balmforth a chance to show us what he can do and earn a new deal. OK with Cust and Seizer, but any injury and we are in trouble, as both have had issues in the past, not confident with those two playing most of the season. Could keep an eye on the market and see if anyone comes up, but not easy without a quota spot. Was hoping we would make a play for Pryce, but nothing reported anywhere.

Loved Sneyd at Hull but he would be an expensive short term signing. Get cross onboard and give cust shirt. If Morgue hasn’t signed for rovers yet, I’d try hijack that by getting him in now. 1. Rapana/ Moy 2. Briscoe/Martin 3. Cross/ chamberlain 4. Hardaker/litten 5. Barron/ Martin 6. Cust/Moy/Kemp 7. Sezer/Charles 8 ese’ese/ Ashworth 9. Borough/Balmforth 10. Sao/ Aydin 11. Cartwright/ Holmes 12. Lane/ Staveley 13. Asiata/ Fash 14. Ashworth/salabio 15. Balmforth/Moy 16. Aydin/ Fash 17. Holmes/ Staveley My gut says our 17 looks something like this with a rough back up for each position. Definitely weak in front row and definitely a risk with Cust till we’ve seen if we’re getting Wigan or Salford cust. It’s an improvement on last year and a nice reliance on youth.

[quote="Dave K.":2h20u948]As said a couple of days ago, I'm ok not signing Sneyd, something didn't feel quite right and had a Fonua type feel about it. Gives Balmforth a chance to show us what he can do and earn a new deal. OK with Cust and Seizer, but any injury and we are in trouble, as both have had issues in the past, not confident with those two playing most of the season. Could keep an eye on the market and see if anyone comes up, but not easy without a quota spot. Was hoping we would make a play for Pryce, but nothing reported anywhere.[/quote:2h20u948] Feel the same to be honest Dave re Sneyd, it very rarely pans out well when going back particularly after doing well first time around. As you say it's not going to be easy to find a quality half at this time of year and thats non quota.

But do agree it would be a cracking signing for Leigh and one that puts them in the too 6 again.