We have signed stu Howarth and Josh vievers. Am excited about Howarth as he sounds like a good creative loose who Wakefield didn't wanna lose. Not sure where vievers fits in tho as he is a full back and the general never gets injured and we have Jack Holmes coming through

KMT - not according to Dave Tarry we haven't! He reckons we are up to out limit of 12 Federation trained players therefore won't be signing them.

Heard a rumour, we are looking at the Scottish rugby union winger Angus McCootup

Vievers just confirmed he has signed, hopefully Howarth follows suit! Am pretty happy with how we have strengthened this year. Stadium pics look great as well can't wait for the friendlies now, sick of football need rugby!

Howarth will do well for you. He has potential.

Vievers... thought he would be championship bound. He's ok but he lacks pace, don't put him at centre as he gets skinned and left eating dust.

Good luck and I hope the team do well for you Salford fans (except against wakey).

I'm in two minds about this one - not sure where he'll fit in...I suspect he'll be in the 20's most of the year and just covering for Patten if he's innjured.

In terms of our recruitment as a whole, again mixed feelings

I would have liked a 'big name' signign to galvanise and excite the supproters and create a surge for season tickets....think we are missing a trick with this as we only get one chance moving into the staidum

However, I dont feel our squad is as weak as some make out. We have lost cashmere and henry, and althoigh we havent replaced cashmere (quallity wise), maybe our mobile pack will be used to good effect. Also, this time last year we were excited about patten, feka, anderson, etc. I think these 3 in particular have something to prove and so they could have storming seasons!

I hope im not being over optimistic (usually am eveyr season!) But i think new ground, broken season tickct record, players backing the coach, written off....could we shock a few and have a cracking year???

fingers crossed!!

Potential means nothing. If your good enough your old enough. Here at Salford we here that word potential day in day out.




The josh vievers signing doesn't encourage enthusiasm. Wonder why we signed him.

Were also used to seeing bad defending from the centre positions. Weve had some shockers from Beryl Birkett, Stuart Littler, and even todays centres are no better. Hope Joel Moon is decent enough in defence. Off the top of my head, the last sound defensive centre was Scott Naylor.

Well, if this is true then we know someone will be beside himself with joy. Mitie Mouse was really upset about the club's failure to sign these players on the John Wilkinson thread.

Let's hope he can keep it in his pants until the signing's confirmed.

Does this mean that the 12 federation players limit was ballcocks then?

it does apply with the nominated 1st team squad of 25 , but :-
( Super League squads:-• Each Engage Super League club must nominate a first team squad of up to 25 players.
• Clubs may then make amendments to that first team squad during the season with the prior approval of the RFL.)

so it's correct , but also ballcocks,
with Salford we have no chance of populating 8 of our 1st team squad of 25 with Club trained players yet , due to our pitiful youth set up and players that do make the step up buggering off to Hull or Warrington.
club trained have to have been with the club three full seasons prior to being ineligble for reserve grade rugby .

most SL teams have bigger squads than 25 , presumably SL will allow Salford more Federation registered players until our club trained numbers ramp up , or they throw us out .
[iFederation Trained Player
A Federation Trained Player is one who has been on the register of one or more member clubs in the same Rugby League Federation as the club he wishes to join (Great Britain for the majority, France in the case of players joining Catalan Dragons) for three full seasons before the end of the season in which he ceases to be eligible by age for Reserve Grade Rugby League.

Non-Federation Trained Player

A Player who does not meet either of the definitions above.


Year 2012 ( Club Trained - Minimum = 8 ) ( Non-federation trained - Maximum 5) (Federation trained* - remainder 12 )
*subject to change afer a review of the system

• All teams in Engage Super League XVI will operate under a ‘real time’ salary cap system that calculates a club’s salary cap position at the start of and throughout the season.
• The combined earnings of the Top 25 players must not exceed £1.65 million.
• Clubs are only allowed to sign a player if they have room under the cap.
• Clubs can spend a maximum of £50,000 on players outside the Top 25 earners who have made at least one first grade appearance for the club during the year.
• Costs for players outside of the Top 25 earners, who do not make a first team appearance, will be unregulated.
• Any player who has played for the same Club for at least 10 consecutive seasons will have half their salary excluded from the Salary Cap for his eleventh and subsequent seasons. This is measured from the season in which the player was registered as a professional player with the club and is subject to a maximum of £50,000 for any one club.[/i

I know it's been asked before but [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/17937496should we?[/url our pack is lacking size (yes I know he's got too much of it, but if we can get him fit!) even if it was a loan. I'm sure he'd come (he's nowt else to do really) as he's a mate of Holdsworth & Patten?

The new conditioner seemed to get Feka fitter than previously so maybe can knock a few pounds off him and he is a fair decent player when his weight is kept in check.
If nothing else him and Feka fighting over the last tray of sausage rolls at Greggs would be a sight to behold.

I know Patten's leaving early and Feka, Smith, Boyle, Adamson, Williams, Gibson and Gleeson's contracts are up soon, are there any others I've missed who we can replace for similar money to improve us? Without being cruel it could be early retirement or NL1 for some of these boys. Or can you see any of the above doing enough between now and September to convince PV to agree to their agents demands?

Next year Holdsworth's, Wild, Anderson, Boyle, Nero, Godwin, James and Sidlow are up, if i'm being honest on past and present form and the veteran stage of some, I wouldn't lose sleep or bother breaking the bank to keep any of them.

It's always been said that Salford had to pay more than the going rate to attract players to the Willows, perhaps now in the new stadium we will get more value for money?

IN: Smith, Holdsworth, Adamson, Williams, Gleeson Out: Feka, Boyle, Gibson, Sidlow, Nero, Wild, Godwin, Neal and James Retired: Anderson Below is a link to 2012 out of contract players in the NRL. www.zerotackle.com.au/rugby-leag IN: FUI FUI MOI MOI, LUKE MacDOUGAL, SIKA MANU

IN: Smith, Holdsworth, Adamson, Williams, Gleeson Out: Feka, Boyle, Gibson, Sidlow, Nero, Wild, Godwin, Neal and James Retired: Anderson Below is a link to 2012 out of contract players in the NRL. www.zerotackle.com.au/rugby-leag IN: FUI FUI MOI MOI, LUKE MacDOUGAL, SIKA MANU

Feka has another year after this doesn't he?

He's going to Widnes by the look of it.

Quote ="RED MOUNTAIN"IN: Smith, Holdsworth, Adamson, Williams, Gleeson Out: Feka, Boyle, Gibson, Sidlow, Nero, Wild, Godwin, Neal and James Retired: Anderson'" Can you 'hand on heart' say that you think our halfback combination is consistent enough to take us up a level? In my opinion both players are generally poor to average but capable of having the odd decent game now and then. Quote ="LEDGE787"Feka has another year after this doesn't he?'" I think you are right. According to the MEN it's Anderson's contract that is up. menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... hull-kr-18

Quote ="RED MOUNTAIN"IN: Smith, Holdsworth, Adamson, Williams, Gleeson Out: Feka, Boyle, Gibson, Sidlow, Nero, Wild, Godwin, Neal and James Retired: Anderson'" Can you 'hand on heart' say that you think our halfback combination is consistent enough to take us up a level? In my opinion both players are generally poor to average but capable of having the odd decent game now and then. Quote ="LEDGE787"Feka has another year after this doesn't he?'" I think you are right. According to the MEN it's Anderson's contract that is up. menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... hull-kr-18

That bastion of all knowledge The Sun has linked you with this guy....

[urlhttp://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/rugby_league/4305123/Salford-set-to-swoop-for-Luke-Towers-after-Luke-Patten-quit.html[/url

It would be nice if Jordan James could help persuade fellow Welshmen Elliott Kear,who can play full back,and
prop Craig Kopczak to come to Salford should their contracts become invalid if Bradford Bulls go into adminstration.
Both with good years ahead of them.
If Towers is to be signed Kear is also a recognised winger.

Quote ="theredshed"Can you 'hand on heart' say that you think our halfback combination is consistent enough to take us up a level? In my opinion both players are generally poor to average but capable of having the odd decent game now and then. I think you are right. According to the MEN it's Anderson's contract that is up. menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... hull-kr-18'" Yes I think both halfbacks would be pretty good with a half decent pack to get them on the front foot. At the moment we are very lightweight in the forwards with no push, aggression, agility or zip, we are bullied by most packs and often play off the cuff rugby because we are on the back foot.

Quote ="theredshed"Can you 'hand on heart' say that you think our halfback combination is consistent enough to take us up a level? In my opinion both players are generally poor to average but capable of having the odd decent game now and then. I think you are right. According to the MEN it's Anderson's contract that is up. menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... hull-kr-18'" Yes I think both halfbacks would be pretty good with a half decent pack to get them on the front foot. At the moment we are very lightweight in the forwards with no push, aggression, agility or zip, we are bullied by most packs and often play off the cuff rugby because we are on the back foot.

Fair point about the pack but I still think something is missing and we need a real leader in the halves like an Andrew Dunemann. I also think we desperately need a couple of big, agile and speedy back row forwards to give us much more punch in possesion. We also need a couple of big, aggressive, metre making props and another creative centre who can defend better than what we have now.

The situation with the pack has existed for years due to many terrible signings of has-been oldies, crocks that couldn't pass a medical, second rate aussies or cast offs. Let's hope PV has identified our biggest weakness and brings in the right players to finally address this long-term problem. Let's hope the 'time-warp signings' are a thing of the past!

Being critical against our Footie Director and our scouting system I'd say other than Andy Coley many moons ago which youngsters have we identified with potential and developed from lower league clubs? Other SL clubs do it all the time so why can't we? These players wouldn't cost big money and they would be all out to prove they can make the grade. Pay less initially for a couple of these lads and you have more money to spend elsewhere.

There are 5 areas we could recruit players from:- U20's, Superleague, Lower Leagues, Overseas and Rugby Union but we only ever really sign cast offs from other SL clubs or Overseas cast offs. OK the odd U'20 gets a squad number but only three have ever made it at SL level.

For a club like Salford needing to go forward is has to be about quality not quantity, with more of the U20's progressing into the first team. Otherwise what is point of the U'20's if there is little or no return on investment?

Williams, Gleeson and maybe Gibson are the only ones I'd keep the rest as far as I'm concerned can go. I'd also give Smith a contact for the right price I definitely wouldn't be breaking the bank to keep him with Theo and Sneyd coming through.

As for the end of next season it can't come quick enough as we have a lot of 'stodge' that we need to get rid off.

Feka - Looked promising at the start of the season, but wouldn't offer him another deal.

Smith - See above, wouldn't break the bank to keep him.

Wild -Works hard and a good solid pro, but we need more from a super league 13.

Anderson - Will retire at the end of the season, thank god.

Boyle - Just stodge, not good enough for this level

Nero - Been a good pro, but getting too old now. Starting to pick up a few injuries time for him to go.

Godwin - Too injury prone, gives his all when on the field, but another one who needs to call it a day.

James - Never ever rated him, god knows why we signed him?

Sidlow - Got the size and a decent off load that's about it.

Williams - I'd go as far to say he's better Broughton. We need Danny signed up asap.

Gibson - Defence is poor, but a useful player to have and always pops up with a try. Worth another contract IMO

Gleeson - Had a couple of poor games, but I think he looks every bit as dangerous as Moon on his day, has great foot work and a good offload always seems to make space for his winger.

Adamson - Yet another stodge player, works hard, but makes very little yardage, rarely offloads, rarely breaks the line. As a squad player maybe I'd give him a contract.

I think thats a pretty acurate assessment Ave It. If Gleeson and Williams do stay I think they both need to work much harder on their defence.

As for Matty Smith, similar money maybe but if he's looking for a big pay hike I'd look elsewhere. Although with the exception of Jewitt's form and the potential of young Owen I think the same 'Take it or leave it' approach should apply to all the players that they would consider retaining.

If they can get more money elsewhere best of luck to them. For every pound the club spends over the going rate, it effects the overall quality of the team they can put on the pitch. Lessons must be learned from past experiences, it's time to get smarter and play hardball for the greater good of this club.

Agreed we had one last year and this year needed to put two more with him not let him go and sign some NL1 players. Incidentally for those of you who don't follow the NRL Ray has been snapped up by the West Tigers via the Illawarra Clippers and he now plays with the likes of Robbie Farrah and Benji Marshall, it hasn't gone unnoticed that in conjunction with his arrival (3 games now) they have won all three and turned what was becoming an indifferent season around. ray has scored and according to the likes of Ray Warren looked the most interested player in the Tigers side.