https://x.com/M_Shaw1/status/1877349304 ... 4%2Fpage-7

https://x.com/M_Shaw1/status/1877349304 ... 4%2Fpage-7

[quote="[Gareth]":2xhdbjg0]https://x.com/M_Shaw1/status/1877349304907551087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1877349304907551087%7Ctwgr%5Ee396b8b93d000bf942892ba289adecb723e794ff%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fforums.redvee.net%2Findex.php%3Fthreads%2Fsalford-begging-bowl-time-again.34294%2Fpage-7[/quote:2xhdbjg0] So Brierley could be an option with a salary cap dispensation? Not saying we need him, but desperate times at Salford by the sound of it. I suppose Sneyd will be the jewel of the crown for any asset strippers circling around

[quote="TonyM19":16bgivrm]So Brierley could be an option with a salary cap dispensation? Not saying we need him, but desperate times at Salford by the sound of it. I suppose Sneyd will be the jewel of the crown for any asset strippers circling around[/quote:16bgivrm] How can it get to this situation? Salford ask for some of their money early to survive, and now we're being told there is a firesale of their players? I've also just looked at their website. Key number missing for this coming season with no 6 or 9 named in the squad etc, plus they've signed Hill and Marsters that i can see, so worrying times if its true

[quote="Jukesays":2lqfwnju]Not if he outperforms them, surely that's obvious? Peet isn't going to keep Farrimond in the reserves if he's a better option/player or more in form than either of the other 2?[/quote:2lqfwnju] In fairness to Nathan, he likely is right in that it'll take a sustained spell of injury for one of the starting halves to give Farrimond a 'proper' chance. French and Smith have been absolutely superb for the club and Peet won't forget that, even if Farrimond plays unbelievably well in a one off chance he may get early in the season. The first thing Farrimond will need to be able to outperform them is a run of games and I honestly don't see how that comes without an injury to one of the starters. Peet would back French and Smith through a poor patch of form IMO and rightfully so.

[quote="Mark_P1973":2knczzbo]How can it get to this situation? Salford ask for some of their money early to survive, and now we're being told there is a firesale of their players? I've also just looked at their website. Key number missing for this coming season with no 6 or 9 named in the squad etc, plus they've signed Hill and Marsters that i can see, so worrying times if its true[/quote:2knczzbo] To find out a club in financial difficulty and in special measures has gone on a pre season trip to Portugal is pretty mind blowing!

[quote="TonyM19":1u80vc8u]So Brierley could be an option with a salary cap dispensation? Not saying we need him, but desperate times at Salford by the sound of it. I suppose Sneyd will be the jewel of the crown for any asset strippers circling around[/quote:1u80vc8u] At this point, i think the club would be foolish to not even have a punt at somebody like Brierley who could potentially add something to the squad, even if that is only back up. With salary cap dispensations on offer it is a Win/win for the club. Shame it has come to this for Salford, but if what is being reported is true that they are off on a Warm weather training camp shortly they must be taking the mickey surely? Some of them players they would be taking may not even be theirs in a few weeks and they certainly can't afford it.

[quote="NickyKiss":593xdg7w]In fairness to Nathan, he likely is right in that it'll take a sustained spell of injury for one of the starting halves to give Farrimond a 'proper' chance. French and Smith have been absolutely superb for the club and Peet won't forget that, even if Farrimond plays unbelievably well in a one off chance he may get early in the season. The first thing Farrimond will need to be able to outperform them is a run of games and I honestly don't see how that comes without an injury to one of the starters. Peet would back French and Smith through a poor patch of form IMO and rightfully so.[/quote:593xdg7w] Depends which way you take the statement If Farrimond is performing better than the other 2 in which ever way that scenario comes about over a sustained period (not 1 or 2 games) whether that be injury providing the opportunity, a sustained lack of form from one or the other or an injury to a player such as Field that moves say French to FB then all I was pointing out was that if Farrimond plays to a level that surpasses what either of the other 2 can provide at that time for a period them Peet will pick him I don't expect or hope that it happens, I'm just saying that if it did Peet would pick him In response to Zig who said he would get picked if he outperformed them you said this "Then we'll all be chuffed because he'll be some player. It's a great position to be in. I think they'll open up a path in to the side for him somehow. If he's good enough to open it himself through performance then we're in for a treat." Nothing different to what I'm saying

I suspect having Farrimond in the squad may impact how strongly Wigan resist potential NRL approaches for Harry Smith a couple of years from now.

[quote="NickyKiss":22f2rxze]To find out a club in financial difficulty and in special measures has gone on a pre season trip to Portugal is pretty mind blowing![/quote:22f2rxze] Has anyone had sight of Salford’s balance sheet and, if so, how does it compare to other SL teams’ balance sheets? It now looks like the powers that be are going to shift the salary cap goal posts to allow player movement, I’m not sure that does the game any favours.

[quote="Zig":2dg8ysrb]Has anyone had sight of Salford’s balance sheet and, if so, how does it compare to other SL teams’ balance sheets? It now looks like the powers that be are going to shift the salary cap goal posts to allow player movement, I’m not sure that does the game any favours.[/quote:2dg8ysrb] Not that I've seen. It all seems a bit of a mess, especially with the potential cap and quota dispensations they're saying they may offer other clubs to take players on. If things are that serious you cannot see how they think Salford can get through the season. It feels like they'd have been better holding back the central funding and moving them down to the Championship and at least then the next club off the rank could've taken on some of Salfords players, which would've avoided other clubs in Superleague potentially having more quota players and spending more than others.

[quote="NickyKiss":2nd1ypnb]Not that I've seen. It all seems a bit of a mess, especially with the potential cap and quota dispensations they're saying they may offer other clubs to take players on. If things are that serious you cannot see how they think Salford can get through the season. It feels like they'd have been better holding back the central funding and moving them down to the Championship and at least then the next club off the rank could've taken on some of Salfords players, which would've avoided other clubs in Superleague potentially having more quota players and spending more than others.[/quote:2nd1ypnb] I agree, one way or another it looks like SL will be devalued. Salford could be the tip of the iceberg.

[quote="Zig":1mwm1bav]I agree, one way or another it looks like SL will be devalued. Salford could be the tip of the iceberg.[/quote:1mwm1bav] 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="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.