SALFORD RED DEVILS {2020}

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...Super League considers radical season change...

Another radical change to the Super League season could see the campaign come to an end this weekend, with an extended play-off structure brought into place instead.

League Express can reveal Super League’s fixtures working group has explored the possibility of shortening the season and adding additional teams to the play-off picture.

Initially, talks had been kept informal but key figures from several clubs, including Leeds and Warrington, have shown support for an extended play-off system that would reduce the number of games players are being asked to play while adding a level of meaningfulness to the remaining fixtures.

Five clubs are currently chasing four play-off places and with no relegation at the end of the season, some remaining games are effectively dead rubbers.

With player welfare already a concern, and Covid-19 cases continuing to wreak havoc across the competition, there are growing calls to change the structure again.

That could see a five, six or even eight-team play-off structure put in place to fill the two weekends that would be left vacant by cutting the regular season short.

As it stands, there are five weeks of the season remaining, with the Grand Final set to take place on November 27th at the KCOM Stadium.

Currently, there are two weekends scheduled for the play-offs, but five, six and eight team formats are all based on four weekends of action.

Clearly, a change to the schedule would mean all clubs haven’t played each other twice, but with Catalans already having five games cancelled, including many against top-half sides, it is not perceived to be as big a concern as it would have been in other circumstances.

It means players are also not being asked to put their bodies at risk for meaningless games after a brutal schedule, while it would mean that Sky Sports would have a set of fixtures that all have a clear importance, as opposed to the current format.

Though a decision hasn’t been made yet, talks are set to take place this week.

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.....BETFRED Super League: Salford Red Devils 12-10 St Helens.....




Krisnan Inu scored his eighth try of the season to help Salford to victory


Betfred Super League

Salford (6) 12
Tries: Pauli, Inu Goals: Inu 2

St Helens (10) 10
Tries: Eaves Goals: Dodd 3



Salford struck late through Krisnan Inu to deny a youthful St Helens side an 11th Super League win in a row and end a three-game losing run.

Saints racked up a 10-0 lead through Josh Eaves' try and tree Lewis Dodd goals, but a typical Pauli Pauli barge got Salford points before the break.

Both sides passed up chances after the break, with Saints debutant Tom Nisbet and Salford's Rhys Williams spilling.

But Inu powered over late on to keep Saints waiting for a play-off spot.

Saints boss Kristian Woolf gambled on an inexperienced crop of players, including five debutants - Nisbet, Ben Davies, Nico Rizzelli, Matthew Foster and Jake Wingfield - and it almost paid off with the derby against Wigan looming this week.

There was an energy and zest to their play before the break, as they controlled the first half hour but only had Eaves' try, created by Dom Peyroux's rampaging run, to show for it.

However, Pauli scored off a trademark bludgeoning carry to bring Salford back into the game and they were far more competitive after the break in chilly conditions.

That said, genuine goalline action was sparse, despite a try-saving tackle stopping Tui Lolohea from grounding.

Ian Watson, who has been linked with the Hull FC job this week, saw his side show the character to overturn the deficit - and bounce back from their Challenge Cup final disappointment..

Saints stay top, however, and remain on course for the League Leaders' Shield despite this blip.

After the match, Watson confirmed reports that he had been approached by Hull FC, but has chosen to remain with the Red Devils.

"Hull came forward and I can't speak highly enough of them," Watson said. "They've been really professional and did everything the right way. They contacted the club asking if they could have permission to speak to me and the club gave them permission.

"I spoke to Adam [Hull chairman Adam Pearson] who talked about what was important to him and his family at Hull and the Hull club and making sure they were right going forward.

"My concern are my players at Salford and, with the timing and the circumstances and everything else that's going on with Covid - my girls are the in the final year of their A-levels and GCSEs - it's probably not right for us at the moment.

"I'm flattered to be considered to be honest. As you go forward, you never know. I want to challenge myself and see how far I can go. I'd love to go and coach in the NRL one day but there's a process to go through to get there and I'm still enjoying what I'm doing here."

Saints coach Woolf said he was "really proud" of the effort his youthful side put in against a determined Salford outfit.

"I thought we did a great job and for 75 minutes we had an opportunity to win," Woolf added.

"A lot of blokes will take a lot of lessons out of the last couple of minutes. Every play counts at this level."

Salford: Sarginson; Williams, Chamberlain, Kear, Inu; Lolohea, Atkin; Mossop, Ackers, Yates, McCarthy, Pauli, Burke

Interchanges: Lussick, Dudson, Jones, Roberts

St Helens: Costello; Nisbet, Davies, Simm, Rizzelli; Dodd, Welsby; Batchelor, Eaves, Walmsley, Peyroux, Paulo, Graham

Interchanges: Ashworth, Smith, Foster, Wingfeld

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Warrington have been awarded a 24-0 victory over Salford after the Red Devils informed Super League and the RFL that they are unable to fulfil Friday’s Super League fixture.

The win has been awarded to the Wolves under competition rules governing forfeited fixtures, with the matter referred to the RFL’s Compliance Department for further consideration.


A Salford statement reads: “This match would have been the team’s third of a congested schedule, which was set to see the Red Devils play four times within the space of 11 days.

“Salford Red Devils informed Super League and the RFL that only 13 players are available for selection. This includes two recent loan signings and two players promoted from the academy, who were brought into the squad in order to assist in the fulfilment of fixtures.”

In the meantime, Super League are continuing to explore fixture rescheduling options in light of today’s announcements, with Huddersfield’s match against Castleford on Friday also postponed.

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..Kevin Brown set for Salford stay...


Kevin Brown is expected to play on with Salford in 2021.

The 36-year-old has been ruled out for the rest of this season after he played through the pain barrier to feature in the Challenge Cup final for the Red Devils. Brown is contracted to Salford for next season and is expected to remain at the club for 2021.