[quote="Zig":3cn0id8d]It’s not been ratified yet, Saints could be playing half a Salford team.[/quote:3cn0id8d] Their statement says they’ll have a full squad to choose from.

[quote="Stu M":63f7o83k]Their statement says they’ll have a full squad to choose from.[/quote:63f7o83k] Thank you. That’s what we want to see. So has the deal now been ratified?

[quote="Stu M":1ntpire1]I should’ve clarified that Salford weren’t playing amateurs today but they still won by less of a margin than I would’ve expected. Salford are +14.5 with the bookies which I find staggering and have to say I’ve already bet on. Part of me wonders if the bookies know that maybe the takeover won’t be completely confirmed by next week meaning they won’t be able to play a full team? I’ll keep a close eye on the news before Thursday and cash out if that’s the case. I’d say Wigans game is the game of the round. Big things expected of Leigh and I’m intrigued to see how Armstrong goes. I think he’s a dark horse for the MOS Let’s hope for our sake that Leigh give you a game this time.[/quote:1ntpire1] I got Salford +16.5 and Warrington -6.5 last week, easy double. I wouldn’t call Armstrong a dark horse, everyone I speak to is tipping him. I got him at 33/1 he’s down to about 16s now

[quote="NSW":4cg799oa]I got Salford +16.5 and Warrington -6.5 last week, easy double. I wouldn’t call Armstrong a dark horse, everyone I speak to is tipping him. I got him at 33/1 he’s down to about 16s now[/quote:4cg799oa] Just got on the Salford/Wire double but -10 on Warrington. Well done going early!

[quote="NSW":3n3vn43h]I got Salford +16.5 and Warrington -6.5 last week, easy double. I wouldn’t call Armstrong a dark horse, everyone I speak to is tipping him. I got him at 33/1 he’s down to about 16s now[/quote:3n3vn43h] That’s a great price, well done. I have a feeling Sailor won’t be a million miles away either. May have a dabble on him.

[quote="Stu M":eu4sbkdu]That’s a great price, well done. I have a feeling Sailor won’t be a million miles away either. May have a dabble on him.[/quote:eu4sbkdu] You will need to find some points for Sailor to have a chance. Don't think Saints style of play will do him any favours. If he stays fit I can see Jai Field being in the mix this year

[quote="Stu M":3ukep0ud]That’s a great price, well done. I have a feeling Sailor won’t be a million miles away either. May have a dabble on him.[/quote:3ukep0ud] That will depend on how the Saints pack performs.

I see Hurrell has already been dropped, before the season's began I think their 13 is still quite strong though, they just need Lomax and Welsby to get back to some decent form. But I can't see much impact off the bench unless Paasi also gets some form from somewhere. Agree that their (long) kicking game is likely their biggest issue. For years they constantly benefited from making strong yards from Makinson and Walmsley and then doing that boring box kick in the corner but I'm not sure that works now. I think they'll beat Salford though, they should have enough power to beat them by 10+ points.

[quote="Wigg'n":2nxqzcud]I see Hurrell has already been dropped, before the season's began I think their 13 is still quite strong though, they just need Lomax and Welsby to get back to some decent form. But I can't see much impact off the bench unless Paasi also gets some form from somewhere. Agree that their (long) kicking game is likely their biggest issue. For years they constantly benefited from making strong yards from Makinson and Walmsley and then doing that boring box kick in the corner but I'm not sure that works now. I think they'll beat Salford though, they should have enough power to beat them by 10+ points.[/quote:2nxqzcud] With Salford confirming a reserve side Saints should win with 30 minimum

[quote="bazdev":30b17bmq]With Salford confirming a reserve side Saints should win with 30 minimum[/quote:30b17bmq] Feels really sad for the comp that they can't put their full team out. We've had a couple of byes over this last couple of years with teams resting players around the cup final and play offs though, so I'm personally not going to complain. A great looking fixture has been rendered pretty much a none event now though and the game doesn't need that, especially on the opening weekend and with it being the game on free to air TV.

Glad I cashed out a couple of days ago as I had a decent sized bet on Salford at +14.5 but I had a feeling that the clearance wouldn't be done in time. Not sure why they can't play the same side as they played in the CC Cup which would've been more than competitive. Or have they just stuck 2 fingers up at the RFL? Feel sorry for the no doubt sizeable Salford contingent who have bought tickets fully expecting a full squad.

It's also embarrassing for SL that Saints have essentially received 2 free competition points just because of the fixture draw. Imagine they finish 1 point above relegation now

[quote="Stu M":1jq43afk]Glad I cashed out a couple of days ago as I had a decent sized bet on Salford at +14.5 but I had a feeling that the clearance wouldn't be done in time. Not sure why they can't play the same side as they played in the CC Cup which would've been more than competitive. Or have they just stuck 2 fingers up at the RFL? Feel sorry for the no doubt sizeable Salford contingent who have bought tickets fully expecting a full squad.[/quote:1jq43afk] Betting on the game has been removed by Skybet and Betfred so don’t know if any exsisting bet still stands

Saturday's evening viewing ruined. Just rugby leagues luck that this fixture was picked by the beeb

Why not lift the cap provisionally pending approval?

[quote="MadDogg":2gh1iuxa]Why not lift the cap provisionally pending approval?[/quote:2gh1iuxa] Not sure you can do that, what if approval was not granted and Salford won with a full strength team. Would they then have to forfeit the points.

[quote="Wigg'n":2lixkx4b]It's also embarrassing for SL that Saints have essentially received 2 free competition points just because of the fixture draw. Imagine they finish 1 point above relegation now [/quote:2lixkx4b] There's only one team bottom of SL at the moment

[quote="Stu M":haplomhm]There's only one team bottom of SL at the moment [/quote:haplomhm] There always is

[quote="karetaker":zeyafi6b]Not sure you can do that, what if approval was not granted and Salford won with a full strength team. Would they then have to forfeit the points.[/quote:zeyafi6b] It's a right mess whichever way you look at it. It will probably affect the crowd at Saints and, I would imagine that, the BBC are not too thrilled as it will affect their viewing figures. If Saints are not at the top of the league by Saturday evening they are in for a difficult season.

[quote="Stu M":2racd2lr]There's only one team bottom of SL at the moment [/quote:2racd2lr] At least once again we were history makers in defeat

[quote="Zig":uuo7svc9]It's a right mess whichever way you look at it. It will probably affect the crowd at Saints and, I would imagine that, the BBC are not too thrilled as it will affect their viewing figures. If Saints are not at the top of the league by Saturday evening they are in for a difficult season.[/quote:uuo7svc9] I believe Saints are livid. Any potential "walk ups" now won't happen. Salford have clearly looked at it and presumed that they had a good chance of losing with a weakened team anyway, so made the decision to completely rest everyone and go again in R2. That's how I see it anyway.

[quote="Stu M":1s3bwpei]I believe Saints are livid. Any potential "walk ups" now won't happen. Salford have clearly looked at it and presumed that they had a good chance of losing with a weakened team anyway, so made the decision to completely rest everyone and go again in R2. That's how I see it anyway.[/quote:1s3bwpei] Either that or as Jon Wilkin put it last night, it's a petty strategy to get back at the RFL.

Either way I think they should be looking at disciplinary action against Salford. There was a lot of goodwill shown towards them from across the game during this period of turmoil and it feels a bit like they've thrown it back in everyone's faces. This isn't a team resting players ahead of a Cup Final or Play off game. They were put under those special measures to help them and the other clubs voted to allow them an advance of the central distribution money and they then go and make a mockery of the first game of the season and to make matters worse, it's on the BBC. It feels like they've got this one all wrong IMO.

[quote="NickyKiss":w0ets3hd]Either way I think they should be looking at disciplinary action against Salford. There was a lot of goodwill shown towards them from across the game during this period of turmoil and it feels a bit like they've thrown it back in everyone's faces. This isn't a team resting players ahead of a Cup Final or Play off game. They were put under those special measures to help them and the other clubs voted to allow them an advance of the central distribution money and they then go and make a mockery of the first game of the season and to make matters worse, it's on the BBC. It feels like they've got this one all wrong IMO.[/quote:w0ets3hd] Agreed. They've also treated their travelling support with contempt too. I've not heard of a lot of their squad but some Saints fans have said 4 or 5 are under 18 and have barely played. There's a player welfare issue right there. I'll admit its also taken the gloss off it for me and my eldest lad tomorrow. I've gone from looking forward to it to now knowing we are going to win and it's just by what score. We are in a complete lose/lose situation as if we don't win by a cricket score we'll be criticised and if we do win well, it will be "well what did you expect, its only Salford Reserves" Tomorrow for me is purely 2 points, a chance to build some combinations, but we also should really be looking at trying to put a good score on. We finished 3rd in 2023 on points difference and it's a chance tomorrow to build that.

[quote="NickyKiss":1wy50oc2]Either way I think they should be looking at disciplinary action against Salford. There was a lot of goodwill shown towards them from across the game during this period of turmoil and it feels a bit like they've thrown it back in everyone's faces. This isn't a team resting players ahead of a Cup Final or Play off game. They were put under those special measures to help them and the other clubs voted to allow them an advance of the central distribution money and they then go and make a mockery of the first game of the season and to make matters worse, it's on the BBC. It feels like they've got this one all wrong IMO.[/quote:1wy50oc2] Bit left field here but I can’t see why the BBC don’t pull it from the schedule and put a film in its place. But then again it will likely look the mockery it’s going to be so the RA RA brigade will love this and give them cause to ridicule our game.