This was anything but the kind of advert Super League clubs who voted to expand the competition to 14 teams in 2026 would have hoped for.
This may well be the last time we see Salford versus Hull KR as a Super League fixture for some time. There is a growing feeling that, even with two more teams joining the elite next year, Salford’s position is increasingly untenable as they remain riddled by financial problems.
Having been forced to request an advance on their central distribution on the eve of the season, a takeover in February was hoped to be the cure for their long-term ills. But 20 rounds into the season, Salford remain under salary-cap constraints, have had to sell players to make ends meet and are still in deep financial trouble.
A multimillion-pound bridging loan that has long been promised by the owners has not arrived. Salford’s young players that are left are being forced to turn out every week when they are not ready for Super League, and the results are ones like these. This win for Hull KR, their biggest as a top-flight club, was a mismatch from the first minute.
There is no blame attached to Salford’s young squad, who continue to apply themselves superbly in the face of such adversity, their coaching staff or those on the terraces who are passionately backing this group until the end of the season and will continue to do so whatever may come after that. It may well be life in the Championship.
The blame lies with Salford’s ownership, and there is no doubting the uncertainty that has lasted so deep into the season is causing reputational damage to the club, but also to Super League. It was a point not lost on the Hull KR coach, Willie Peters.
He said: “I’m not sure what to feel because the situation Salford are in is not good. I feel for [Salford coach] Paul Rowley, the players and the fans who are turning up every week. Some people have got to be held accountable because it’s embarrassing for our game over here. It does not help anyone.”
Having watched his side concede 14 tries, Rowley appeared emotionally drained. He said: “I’m not sure what the emotion is. I’m bored of it, I’m sick of it. We just want to compete. It’s not what we want to see. We’re sad at the situation and we’re sad for the sport because we don’t want to be in this position.”
Some Super League coaches have expressed concerns there are not enough players to support 14 elite teams and while Salford have their own problems that contributed to this score, this will have done little to assuage those fears.
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It is worth crediting the imperious Super League leaders, though. They scored points at will here to underline the gulf between these two sides. The reigning Man of Steel, Mikey Lewis, provided an incredible eight try assists and scored one of his own, with Rovers 14-0 up after ten minutes and 34-6 ahead by the break.
Any suggestion they would ease up in a show of mercy for a young Salford side was unfounded. Lewis continued to torment the Red Devils after the break, with Joe Burgess crossing for four tries in total and Peters’ men picking up their biggest ever victory as a Super League club.
Their bigger challenges lie ahead, specifically the defending champions Wigan in a fortnight. As for Salford, it is unclear how much longer they will be a Super League club for but their challenges are the same as the competition itself: minimising reputational damage and convincing the public better times lie ahead.