Salford Red Devils are delighted to confirm the signing of Australian half-back Jack Littlejohn for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
The 26-year old from Wagga Wagga in New South Wales made his NRL debut in 2014 with Manly and has spent the last two seasons with Wests Tigers making 16 appearances.
Jack will arrive in Manchester on Monday and will immediately meet up with his new team-mates for pre-season training.
Red Devilsโ CEO, Ian Blease, said: โI was extremely impressed with Jackโs attitude when Ian Watson and myself spoke to him. I have no doubt heโs going to be a terrific addition to the squad.
โWe have been on the lookout for a quality replacement for Michael Dobson and believe we have found him. Jack is coming over to make a name for himself and all the Salford fans should be extremely excited to see him in action this coming season.”
We will have more from Ian Watson on the Jack Littlejohn signing later today.
Tag: Michael Dobson
Seven players to leave the Salford Red Devils
The Salford Red Devils can confirm that seven players have departed the club following the end of the 2017 season.
Michael Dobson, Todd Carney, Olsi Krasniqi, Adam Walne, Jordan Walne, Liam Bent and Connor Williams will not be part of the squad heading into 2018.
Dobson, who has spent three seasons with Salford, confirmed he would return home to Australia last month in search of new avenues in coaching and development and to take his family home.
Head Coach Ian Watson confirmed – following the Red Devils Super 8s fixture with Leeds โ that Carney would no longer be a part of the squad heading into 2018. Carney arrived at the club from Catalans Dragons earlier this season.
Krasniqi also confirmed his departure last month with the Albanian-born forward set for a move to newly promoted Championship side Toronto Wolfpack.
Long-serving brothers Adam and Jordan Walne have both also left the club having made 75 and 55 appearances for the club, respectively.
Youngsters Connor Williams and Liam Bent will also not be a part of the 2018 roster.
CEO Ian Blease said: โWeโd like to thank all seven players for their services to the club.
He added: โAs a club, weโd like to wish each of them all the very best for the future.โ
2018 Season Ticket details are coming up this week.ย
Red Devils team up with Playkidds Children's Play Centre
Through the Salford Red Devils Foundation, Salford Red Devils are happy to announce a new partnership with Playkidds which means young Red Devils and their families can get a 33% discount if they show their Season Tickets or turn up in their Salford Red Devils shirts.
Based on Moorside Road in Swinton and regularly attended by outgoing club captain Michael Dobson, Junior Sau and their families. The unique play centre includes cafe serving high quality healthy food and a Gokart track for our electric Go-Karts.
The site also has a hugeย 3 Tier Play structure, which includes a giant four lane slide, a ball pool and many more obstacles, as well as a Sensory Room for children withย individual needs. This facility can also be used by mums with young babies to interact with the sensory equipment.
As part of the new relationship the Foundation will be working with Playkidds on a number of community activities, which will include a Junior Red Devils Christmas Party, a range of books featuring club mascot Dr Devil and the chance to have your very own Red Devils themed birthday party on site.
Junior Sa’u will be the proud ambassador for this new partnership.
For more information about the playcentre, including how to get there, please visit their website for more information – http://www.playkidds.co.uk/
Ian Watson names his 19-man squad for the visit of St Helens
Ian Watson has made just one change to his 19-man squad for this weekend’s visit of St Helens in the Red Devils final game of the 2017 season.
George Griffin drops from the squad after picking up a knock in last Friday’s defeat to Leeds Rhinos. Josh Wood comes into the 19-man squad for Thursday night’s game.
Wood was included in the match day squad last weekend after Kris Welham had to pull out with a toe injury however the centre returns this weekend.
Michael Dobson, Olsi Krasniqi and Todd Carney, who are all set to depart the club at the end of the season, aren’t included in the 19-man squad.
Lama Tasi, Lee Mossop, Mark Flanagan and Greg Johnson all remained sidelined.
Tickets are on sale for our final home game of the season against St Helens and can be purchased over the phone, at theย Club Ticket Office or online here. Fans can also watch our end of season awards for an extra ยฃ5 in the 1873 suite post-game.ย Seasonย Tickets are valid for all Super 8s home games.
Flashback – Salford Red Devils 44-10 St Helens
We welcome St Helens for our final game of the 2017 season and ahead of Thursday’s fixture we take a look at Saints’ visit to the The Salford Stadium last season when the Red Devils ran out convincing winners.
Salford came into their first home game of 2016 on the back of 2o-42 opening weekend defeat the KCOM Stadium while St Helens earned a 30-16 win over Huddersfield.
But it was the Red Devils started the game on the front foot as Greg Johnson latched onto a low Michael Dobson kick to put Salford ahead after just four minutes. Ian Watson’s side went on to control the first half and take a 32-6 lead into half-time.
Craig Kopczak powered his way over before Robert Lui crossed for the hosts before Alex Walmsley came on from the bench and crashed over but that was as good as it got for St Helens in the first half as Luke Walsh was sent to the sin-bin shortly after.
Niall Evalds took advantage of some fantastic play from Ben Murdoch-Masila and Justin Carney to extend the Red Devils lead further. Carney was again central to Salford’s attacking play as a clever run on his flank allowed Lui to grab his second of the evening.
Even the interval didn’t slow the Red Devils down as Adam Walne bundled his way over from close-range just two minutes after the restart. Dobson eventually got himself on the scoresheet as he warded off three Saints’ challenges before Adam Swift got a late consolation for the visitors. However, it was the Red Devils who had the last laugh as Evalds jinked his way over for his second and Salford’s eighth in a stunning victory.
The teams that day
Red Devils:ย O’Brien, Carney, J. Jones, J. Griffin, Johnson; Lui, Dobson; Kopczak, Lee, G. Griffin, Murdoch-Masila, Flanagan, Lannon.ย Interchanges:ย Evalds, A. Walne, Tomkins, Joseph.
Saints:ย Owens, Makinson, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Percival, Swift; Turner, Walsh; Amor, Knowles, Tasi, Vea, Wilkin, Thompson.ย Interchanges:ย Walmsley, Richards, Savelio, Fages.
Let's end the season in style
The Red Devils host St Helens in our final game of the season on Thursday 21st September, 8pm kick-off, and this gives the club and the fans the perfect opportunity to celebrate this season in style.
This season we have earned our highest ever Super League finish in the regular season, reached our first Challenge Cup semi-final for twenty years and earned our first ever Super League play-off/Super 8s victory.
And, now it’s time for the club to come together and remember this remarkable season with our final game of 2017 against St Helens.
Tickets are available over the phone, at the Club Ticket Office or online here. The Club Ticket Office will be open from 9am-9:30pm every day throughout the week. Season Tickets are valid for our final game of the season.
Following Thursday night’s game we will present our end of season awards in the 1873 suite with general admission ticket and Season Ticket holders having to pay ยฃ5 for admission. However, VIP ticket or Season Ticket holders will not have to pay the additional cost.
This gives fans the perfect opportunity to give the lads the reception they deserve and to celebrate with the players. Also, fans can thank those players who will be leaving at the end of the season such as Michael Dobson, Olsi Krasniqi and Todd Carney who have all made contributions this season for the Red Devils.
In addition, all Red Devils Season Ticket holders have a fantastic hospitality deal available to them for this final game of the season. Season Ticket holders can purchase hospitality for ยฃ60 per person including VAT to finish the season in style including a sumptuous three-course meal, access to the Man of the Match award and a VIP seat to watch our final game of the season.
We have also slashed all our Raging Bull stock by 20% including replica shirts, polo shirts, tracksuit pants, bags and rucksacks, shorts and even scarfs as part of our ‘Super 8s Super Sale’. This offer is available online here but the Raging Bull Stand will also be ย at Thursday night’s game prior to kick-off for you to take advantage of this brilliant offer and get kitted out with your favourite Red Devils gear.
Ian Watson confirms 19-man squad for trip to Leeds
Ian Watson has named his 19-man squad for the Red Devils trip to Headingley to take on Leeds Rhinos on Friday night.
George Griffin returns to the 19-man squad after suffering from a knock sustained last week. Daniel Murray also enters the fray after not featuring since the defeat to Castleford in early August. Olsi Krasniqi is left out of the squad for Friday night’s game.
Greg Johnson was named in last week’s squad but had to pull out through with a hip injury late in the week which means he drops from this week’s 19-man squad. Jake Bibby is likely to start on the wing again after scoring a try last weekend against Huddersfield.
Gareth O’Brien moved into the halves last week and looks to be set to partner Robert Lui again with both Michael Dobson and Todd Carney absent from the 19-man squad.
Tickets are also available for our finalย home game of the 2017 season against St Helens on Thursday 21st September and areย available over theย phone,ย at the club ticket office and online here. Season ticket holders are reminded that their season tickets are valid for all Super 8s home games but are encouraged to look at our hospitality deal for season ticket holders against Saints.
Michael Dobson set to leave the Red Devils
Michael Dobson is set to leave the Salford Red Devils at the end of the 2017 season to return to Australia with his family.
Unfortunately, Dobson was not expected to play again this season due to needing an operation on a thumb injury sustained in the defeat against Wigan but this has now been confirmed as his last game for the Red Devils.
Dobson joined the Red Devils from Newcastle Knights back in 2015 and has helped Salford survive a Million Pound Game and guided the side to their first Challenge Cup semi-final for twenty years.
Dobson said: โIโve been thinking about it for the last year and Iโve got a young family and itโs time to take the family home.
โIโve been here for ten seasons now and weโre just ready to go back, settle down and take a step back from full-time rugby league and move onto the next phase.
โIโm going to play a little bit semi-professionally back in Australia and working within another club trying to get my foot in the door within the realm of coaching and development.
โIโve loved it over here Iโve been here for ten years and, Iโll be honest, I never thought Iโd be here this long but thatโs probably why weโve loved it so much.
โObviously, Iโve loved the Salford Red Devils. Weโve had a hard three years but a good three years theyโre a great bunch of lads and coaching staff here and the people who are involved with the club are great have been great, so it was a tough decision.
โMarwanโs ambition alongside the quality of players at the club was the reason I signed and since Ian Watson has come in everythingโs really clicked and itโs made it hard to leave because of how close-knit weโve become but, of course, family has to come first.โ
Head Coach Ian Watson has coached Dobson for almost two years now and knows how important the Australian half-back has been to the Red Devils rise.
Ian Watson said: โMyself and Dobbo sat down in pre-season together to discuss the possibility of this being his last season due to him having a lovely young family, his wife Sally and two young boys, and he felt the time was right to take them back home.
โWhile we hoped Dobbo may change his mind his decision to take his family home is the right one for him but as a person, and a player, he will be greatly missed by both the coaching staff and the playing group here at Salford Red Devils.
โDobbo is someone you can greatly rely on to commit 100% to the cause which is shown in the amount of respect he commands from the coaching staff and players. He has helped drive and install a fantastic work ethic within the team and club as captain.
โHis attitude is one that doesnโt rely on his talents, which are obvious to see, but his desire and hard-working nature which rubs off on all the players around him. His professionalism and performances over the last couple of years for Salford have been a massive reason as to why weโve progressed to being a top eight club.
โOn a personal note, itโll be sad to see Dobbo leave and Iโd like to thank him as he has helped me massively as a young coach with the discussions and time weโve spent together. I wish him and his family all the very best back in Australia and Iโm sure weโll see Dobbo be very successful in the future whether it be in a coaching position or any other ventures he wishes to pursue.โ
Dobson points to the Challenge Cup semi-final as the highlight of his time with the Red Devils.
He said: โTo make it to the Challenge Cup semi-final was really special. The day, the occasion and the atmosphere was unbelievable and it showed the potential the club has as a whole with the players, staff and fans combining to be successful.
โIt makes it tougher for me knowing this club will be playing in the big games going forward but hopefully the fans get behind the boys every week because I certainly will be from home.โ
Red Devils owner Dr Marwan Koukash said: โEveryone would like to thank Michael Dobson for his commitment and effort to the Red Devils over the past three seasons. It has been fantastic to have someone as professional and talented as Michael in our side.โ
Ian Watson confirms 19-man squad for Wakefield game
Ian Watson has named his 19-man squad ahead of Friday nightโs crucial Super 8s clash with Wakefield Trinity.
Kris Welham returns to the side after missing the Red Devils last two Super 8s outings. Fellow centre Junior Saโu remains in the squad and will be looking for his first start since the Challenge Cup semi-final.
Full-back Niall Evalds is left out of the squad while forward Ben Murdoch-Masila and half-back Michael Dobson are both also absent.
Lee Mossop, Mark Flanagan, Lama Tasi and Connor Williams are all out for the remainder of the 2017 season.
Tickets are still available for Fridayโs game against Wakefield with fans able to purchase over the phone, at the club ticket office or online via the club website. Supporters are reminded that season tickets are valid for all Super 8s home games.
Ian Watson confirms 19-man squad for trip to Wigan
Ian Watson has named his 19-man squad ahead of Friday nightโs Super 8s clash with Wigan Warriors at the DW Stadium, 8pm kick-off.
Junior Saโu returns to the squad after missing the opening two Super 8s fixtures against Hull and Castleford. Jordan Walne is also moved into the 19-man squad.
Ben Murdoch-Masila misses out following a rib injury picked up in the last Fridayโs defeat against Castleford while Daniel Murray is the other change from last weekendโs squad.
Tyrone McCarthy is included in the squad ahead of the trip to Wigan despite pulling up with a calf injury in the warm-up against Castleford last Friday. Kriss Brining retains his place in the side after his return last week.
Lee Mossop and Michael Dobson continue to recover from knocks while Lama Tasi and Mark Flanagan are out for the rest of the season.
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