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
Tag: Todd Carney
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.
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.
Todd Carney will leave the club at the end of the season
Following last nightโs 44-2 defeat against Leeds Rhinos Head Coach Ian Watson confirmed that half-back Todd Carney will leave the club at the end of the season.
Carney didnโt feature against the Rhinos but has made 16 appearances for the Red Devils since arriving at the start of 2017. The former Cronulla Sharks and Catalans Dragons half-back has racked up eight try-assists for Salford this season.
Watson said: โWe speak to Todd Carney all the time but the honest answer is he wonโt be a part of our squad next season.
โItโs absolutely nothing against Todd, heโs been great while heโs been here but the way we want to shape the team and stuff Todd plays a different kind of way.
โTo be fair, heโs been great for us since heโs been here he made Michael Dobson and Rob Lui perform at the beginning of the season with the pressure he put on them.
โHeโs done everything weโve asked of him and everything that I spoke to him about in December about coming here and competing for a spot.
โEven this week he was out on the training field and he was talking to Gareth OโBrien and talking to Rob Lui about things and he can add a lot to you but itโs just one of those things sometimes in Rugby it doesnโt work.
โToddโs been great but heโs been looking at other things as well obviously with his court case in Australia.
โTodd is keen to get to the NRL he never hid that from us even when we spoke back in December he said if there was an option there to get back to the NRL heโd want to do that because thatโs where he feels like he should be playing.
โHeโs been outstanding this season for us I canโt complain about Todd one little bit I know he came with a lot of baggage but heโs been really good for us.”
Red Devils CEO Ian Blease added: “I’d like to thank Todd Carney for his contribution to Salford Red Devils this season and to bring a star of his quality to the club was massive for us – he’s been an integral part of our squad.
“I, as well as everyone at the club, would like to wish Todd all the best going forward in his Rugby League career.”
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.
Ian Watson names 19-man squad for the visit of Huddersfield
Ian Watson has confirmed his 19-man squad ahead of Saturdayโs Super 8s clash with Huddersfield Giants at the The Salford Stadium.
Thereโs two changes to last weekendโs squad as Niall Evalds returns to the side in place of Todd Carney.
Ben Murdoch-Masila, who did end up playing last weekend, returns to the 19-man squad while prop-forward George Griffin is left out.
Olsi Krasniqi, who confirmed he will leave the Red Devils at the end of the season earlier in the week, is also named. Craig Kopczak is set to face his old club on Saturday afternoon.
Salford Red Devils 18-43 Wakefield Trinity
The Red Devils fell to the defeat against Wakefield Trinity for the third time in the league this season, suffering a 18-43 loss.
Ian Watsonโs side took an early lead but found themselves behind at half-time and a slow start to the second half left the Red Devils with too much to do in the latter stages.
Centre duo Kris Welham and Junior Saโu returned for Salford while Ben Murdoch-Masila was re-introduced after picking up a rib injury against Castleford. Tyler Randall debuted for Trinity with Joe Arundal returning to the side, also.
Salford had started well when Craig Kopczak powered his way over from close-range to open the scoring. Todd Carney followed up with the boot and the Red Devils looked to be on their way however it wasnโt to be.
Wakefield hit back as Jacob Miller was quickest to react to his low kick which took several deflections. The returning Arundal then put Trinity ahead midway through the first half. Finn converted both.
But, Salford managed to pull level as Greg Johnson muscled his way over out wide following some quick hands. However, the Red Devils found themselves back behind almost immediately as Miller again latched onto a kick after a mix-up at the back. Liam Finn converted before kicking two penalty goals before the break and one afterwards to open up a ten-point lead.
Chris Chesterโs men were slowly pulling away and two tries in quick succession confirmed the outcome. Debutant Randall broke from the scrum and sliced through the Salford defence before Bill Tupou scored after several half-breaks and some off-the-cuff play from Trinity. Finn converted both.
Randall went on to join Miller as he grabbed a second as he again split the Red Devils defence from close-range. Tyrone McCarthy scored his first Super League try for Salford in the closing stages and it was some try as he spun, put through a neat grubber kick before collecting the ball himself and scoring. However, it was nothing more than a consolation for the Red Devils who face Huddersfield next up at the The Salford Stadium.
Red Devils: OโBrien, Johnson, Welham, Saโu, Vatuvei; Lui, Carney; Kopczak, Tomkins, Hauraki, Murdoch-Masila, Lannon, McCarthy. Interchanges: Jones, Griffin, Krasniqi, Brining.
Wakefield: Grix, Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Arundal, Tupou; Miller, Finn; England, Tyler, Hirst, Ashurst, Kirkmond, Arona. Interchanges: Hadley, Fifita, Huby, Annakin.
Referee: Phil Bentham. Touch Judges โ P Brooke & J Smith. Attendance: 2489.
Todd Carney – "You have these periods"
Despite losing to Castleford on their return to the The Salford Stadium half-back Todd Carney feels there are positives from the Red Devils performance.
Carney, sponsored by Prowood, said: โYeah, itโs disappointing but thatโs footy I guess you have these periods and itโs tough to get out of them.
โWe were a lot better than last week so thatโs a positive.
โWeโll take a few negatives and positives from the game but credit to Castleford theyโre a good team who play some positive football.
โWeโve just got to turn up Monday and train hard and work ourselves out of it but itโs just Rugby League.โ
The Red Devils caused Castleford issues and Carney knows that Salford were unlucky to not have scored more points on Friday evening.
Carney said: โWe were held up twice and we had two tries disallowed earlier in the game.
โManu Vatuvei scored 15 metres from the first contact so I think thatโs a try.
โEarly in the game Niall Evalds goes through I think thatโs 12 points there that we probably should gave had but the referee has seen a different picture.
โBut, if you get those tires early in the day itโs a different ball game. We could have had four tries so thereโs some more points which make it a different game completely.
โIt was mine and Robert Luiโs fourth or fifth game together and itโs working itโs coming along.
โBut, youโve got to take note of Castlefordโs defence itโs been good all season.โ
Fans are reminded that tickets are now on sale for Red Devils remaining home games in the Super 8s against Wakefield, Huddersfield and St Helens. Tickets can be bought over the phone, at the clubโs ticket office or online via the club website. Supporters are also reminded that season tickets are valid for all Super 8s home games.
Ian Watson – "We just needed to take our opportunities"
Red Devils head coach Ian Watson is confident his side are learning lessons from the Super 8s despite falling to a 4-23 defeat at the hands of current table toppers Castleford.
Watson said: โObviously, weโd like to be coming out of these games with victories but we are learning every week.
โCompeting in the Super 8s is something we havenโt done before and weโre using this opportunity to improve and continue to grow as a side.
โWeโve got a few experience members in the side but the younger lads are really learning from this experience.
โLast weekend in the second half against Hull I was disappointed with the effort from the boys but the effort was certainly there against Castleford.
โCompeting against the best sides like Castleford and Hull week in week out can only benefit us as a side.
โWe actually had a lot of ball on Castlefordโs line and we looked dangerous for large periods of the game which is extremely positive – we just needed to take our opportunities.
โI thought Robert Lui and Todd Carneyโs partnership continued to develop and looked promising and Manu Vatuvei was brilliant again.
โWe were on the end of a few tough calls in the first half particularly Manu Vatuveiโs try which got ruled out for an obstruction by Ryan Lannon.
โWe are competing which is very pleasing and itโs always difficult when youโre on a bad run but weโre still confident we can push for a top four place.
โWeโve got another tough game against Wigan next weekend which will be another great test for the lads.โ
Fans are reminded that tickets are now on sale for Red Devils remaining home games in the Super 8s against Wakefield, Huddersfield and St Helens. Tickets can be bought over the phone, at the club’s ticket office or online via the club website. Supporters are also reminded that season tickets are valid for all Super 8s home games.
Salford Red Devils 4-23 Castleford Tigers
The Red Devils fell to their sixth straight defeat at the hands of league leaders Castleford Tigers in their first home game for over a month.
Ian Watsonโs side now sit 6th in the Super League Super 8s trailing Wakefield, who currently sit in 4th, by two points. As for Castleford, they have all but confirmed their status as league leaders unless a huge mathematical swing in the upcoming weeks should happen.
Watson had to make a last-minute change to his side as Tyrone McCarthy pulled out with a calf injury in the warm-up and was replaced by Craig Kopczak.
Castleford took the lead early on as some clever play from acting half-back Paul McShane allowed Zak Hardaker to dive over the line from close-range. Luke Gale converted.
But, Salford looked to have hit back through Manu Vatuvei however video referee Ben Thaler disallowed the try after Ryan Lannon was adjudged to have obstructed the Castleford defence in the build-up.
The Red Devils had a lot of pressure on Castlefordโs line but couldnโt make it prove dividend and the Tigers soon made Salford pay. Jy Hitchcoxโs jinking run from hooker caught the Red Devils off guard and Hardaker was in support to slice through the Salford defence and race 30 metres to extend the visitors lead. Luke Gale converted.
Again, Salford applied pressure to Castlefordโs line in the closing stages of the first half but couldnโt manage to get over the line but they did get on the scoreboard two minutes into the second half.
An accurate low kick from Todd Carney got in-behind the Tigers defence and home debutant Manu Vatuvei was on hand to plant the ball down. Unfortunately, Carney couldnโt add the extras.
Ian Watsonโs side were on top in the opening 20 minutes of the second half with both Kris Brining and Lannon being held-up over the line before Lannon was denied again by video referee Thaler.
Castleford again made Salford pay when they crossed on the 60th minute mark. McShane, who was instrumental in the Tigers first try, again jumped from acting half-back and jinked his way over from close-range.
And, the Tigers sealed the victory a few minutes later through Hitchcox. Hardaker made an initial break before Robert Lui looked to have tackled Gale however the half-back managed to get the ball back to Hardaker who threw a looping pass to the Australian winger who went over in the corner.
Salford continued to look for another try but it just wasnโt to be for the Red Devils and a late Gale drop-goal finished the scoring for the evening.
Red Devils: Evalds, Johnson, Jones, Bibby, Vatuvei; Lui, Carney; Walne, Tomkins, Hauraki, Murdoch-Masila, Lannon, Kopczak.
Interchanges: Griffin, Brining, Krasniqi, Murray.
Castleford: Hardaker, Monaghan, Webster, Minikin, Hitchcox; Roberts, Gale; Millington, McShane, Sene-Lafao, Holmes, McMeeken, Massey.
Interchanges: Milner, Springer, Cook, Foster.
Referee: Chris Kendall. Video referee: Ben Thaler.
Attendance: 2811.
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