Leigh Leopard’s owner Derek Beaumont has criticized Salford Red Devils for having field a ‘reserver’ page in their 82-0 drubbing against St. Helens.
Salford appointed only 16 players for the clash with St. Helens after their decision to name ‘predominantly reserve team players’ in their teams due to continuous disputes with RFL on pay caps.
Salford entered the match still under A reduced sustainability hood of £ 1.2 million While their new ownership consortium is still pending the final approval of RFL, and despite apparently still having first-team players available during this cap chose to field a team of reserve players, with their first three teams of Joe Bullock, Tiaki Chan And Ben Hellewell on the bench.
Like Ryan Brierley, Esan Marsters and Nene Macdonald joined Salford last week in the Challenge Cup, but the club chose not to play them in the opening of the Super League fixture.
That led to the page suffering an 82-0 demolition to Saints, with new recruits Tristan Sailor, scoring four attempts at his Super League debut.
Following the result, Leighs Beaumont went to social media to criticize the club for their decision to only mark young people.
“Complete disrespectful respect from Salford Red Devils to the whole Super League, it’s stakeholders and fans, it affects the integrity of the competence!” he said.
“What kind of new owners allow a coach to behave in such a way?
“I feel for the players who put the shirt on and gave everything! They should have asked him to put one on themselves! Shame!
“To accuse RFL is completely wrong, they knew what they had to do to choose from full team and didn’t come up with it and are only blamed!
“Could have chosen a team that went to Midlands, but tried to give it RFL and don’t care for how they look and the damage to the game! In the words of Neil Diamond Money Talks! Insert it and choose your team or do a And don’t make a mockery of what we are trying to get a success with!
“I feel for Salford fans, many of whom are my friends and are furious at being unnecessarily humiliated!”
Beaumont’s own page started the season with a historic 1-0 Golden Point extra-time victory over ruling masters Wigan Warriors.
Salford coach Paul Rowley admitted that the result was a “terrible look” for Super League, but was unsure if the situation will be resolved before their match against Leeds Rhinos next Saturday.
He told me BBC Radio Manchester: “It’s an unfortunate situation. Responsibility lies with several people. It’s difficult, but the players had a wonderful hand -slip there because they got a ride on the most decorated side of the league in the last decade.
“It’s a terrible scoring line and a terrible look for the league. Salford fans saw through the one they can use logic and understand why. Fans were amazing and gave young players one day they’ll never forget.
“I shook the players in the hand. They gave their best who knows [if it will be resolved by Leeds next week]”
In a prolonged interview with BBC Before their drubbing, Rowley discussed his controversial team choices and said, “My job is to protect my players and I can’t talk much enough of them. If it means I’m sitting here and taking some bullets I don’t feel comfortable with do it but I do it nonetheless and I will be proud of them.
“No one wants to put our amazing games on this stage and not have our strongest team. We were under impression and still believed, hoping we could play our main players.”
Rowley added the club’s situation: “We bought Ferrari, it’s in the garage and the fuel is there, but no one will let us run it.
“There is no logic in it. Is it a punishment or is a security measure in place for the club, but in the end it is the players and staff suffering.
“I sit here saying that I think there are many factors. It’s a complex acquisition, it’s never happened before, so I think we should all accept some accountability.”
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