Salford Red Devils assistant coach Kurt Haggerty shared the challenges over player selection following the clubs Challenge Cup win against Bradford Bulls.
Despite the Red Devils 26-16 victory over Bradford Bulls, they were forced to play without Marc Sneyd, who announced his move to Warrington Wolves earlier in the week.
And despite the positive atmosphere surrounding the victory – Sneyd’s exit have brought major doubts over the future of Nene Macdonald and Tim Lafai due to their ongoing financial crisis.
And with the exit of a big name, assistant coach Haggerty, said it was a “massive fear” and added club officials are expecting to know more by the middle of next week.
Kurt Haggerty described it as a difficult build-up week before the fixture, as the Red Devils have been constantly unsure of which players they would be allowed to pick due to their strict salary cap restrictions.
He said: “It has been extremely difficult because we didn’t know who we could select.
“It was very much a waiting game to find out who could play and who couldn’t, and we have had to take it day by day.”
And the Red Devils problems further extended during the game after they lost Chris Hankinson due to injury, and a sinbin for Ryan Brierley, which allowed Bradford Bulls to grab the lead twice threatening an upset.
However, with late tries from Jayden Nikorima and Ethan Ryan, as well as ten points from stand-in goal-kicker Kai Morgan, it sent the patched-up line-up into the last eight of the competition.
And with Haggerty covering for head coach Paul Rowley due to shoulder operation, he said after the game: “It’s been a constantly changing situation, but the lads have been amazing whatever they’ve had thrown at them, and I can’t commend them enough.
“It’s not just been week to week, this has been going on since November, so it was nice to see the lads be able to come off with a win again.”
And following the victory over Bradford Bulls, Salford Red Devils will be in the last eight in the competition – and will now turn their attention to the Super League against Huddersfield Giants on Thursday 20 March.
What an absolutey shambolic and embarrasing state this great club is now in. Where are the supposedly “New owners”? I feel sorry for Paul Rowley having to work under these restrictions and having to lose players and seemingly headed to relegation or worse. He stood by this club when he probably could have left for a properly run club. Maybe he was blagged into believing this great club was going to bring in new players and would be challenging for honours? The supporters who go week in week out paying for season tickets etc have also been magnificent in their loyalty and standing by the club. It’s bad enough having the RFL breathing down their necks waiting to jump all over the slightest misdemeanour. How as it got so bad? where and WHO are the new owners and management? Is this farce ever going to end or willit be the end of a Great club?