Super League clubs voted against making dramatic changes to both the salary cap and the overseas quota on Tuesday, which could have a major say in the future of Salford Red Devils.
The Red Devils are still hoping to secure new funding before the start of the season, which would prevent them from having to sell some of their most valuable assets.
However, if they do need – or chose – to sell, their chances of doing so have now increased dramatically after clubs voted against a combined motion to allow Salford players to be exempt from the salary ceiling and quota.
Love Rugby League has been informed that the vote was a single one rather than two separate votes on the salary cap and quota problems. According to sources, if the votes had been split, quota exemptions would almost probably have passed, but cap changes would have failed.
However, for the time being, multiple clubs are no longer in the running to recruit Red Devils players.
Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR are two teams that can clearly be separated by lines. The Rhinos were interested in re-signing Kallum Watkins, at the very least, but they are currently above the salary cap and unable to do any additional business without departures. It is now conceivable that they will start in 2025 with what they have.
Rovers have expressed interest in both Marc Sneyd and Nene Macdonald, according to Love Rugby League, but they are currently above the quota and wage cap and cannot do any business unless someone departs. As with Leeds, that would be surprising at this point.
But there are clubs who can still operate in the market.
Who is the most notable among them? There are a few teams with quota space and plenty of salary cap room. One of those? Leigh Leopards. They are still interested in signing Marc Sneyd and are looking for a top-tier halfback to partner Lachlan Lam. They are also tentatively interested in other Red Devils players. But Sneyd is their main aim.
Hull FC does not have quota space, but they are interested in signing Sneyd and Deon Cross, according to Hull Live. They would be unable to sign any overseas Red Devils players, however.
The clubs with quota space outside of Leigh, Huddersfield Giants and Wakefield Trinity, become immediately more appealing in this position. Both have room on the cap to negotiate a deal too, with Huddersfield already under and Wakefield now a substantial bit under after Luke Bain’s departure earlier this week.
Castleford Tigers are in a similar predicament to Hull FC; no room on the quota, but obviously room on the cap to execute a trade. They have, in fact, purposely kept back salary cap space in the eventuality a quality deal materialises as the new season approaches.
So, while some clubs are no longer interested in seeing how the Salford scenario develops, there are still a number of clubs eager to step in if the Red Devils have to sell.
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