Following the exit of Salford Red Devils prop Jamie Pye, the club now have just five players on their books.
The Red Devils, who have a lingering HMRC winding-up petition hanging over them, have had a torrid season full of major financial issues, and that has led to the majority of the squad moving on, with departures coming all across the season.
What started with the likes of Tim Lafai, Marc Sneyd and Brad Singleton all moving on in the early part of the year, the club has just seen exit after exit, and understandably so, with players wages constantly being delayed, broken promises from the owners and a huge uncertainty around the future of the club.
Head coach Paul Rowley called time on his Salford career last month, signing with St Helens for the next three years. Loghan Lewis and Jayden Nikorima were two of the more recent players to leave, with the pair both signing at Bradford Bulls. Jamie Pye is the latest exit, moving to Rochdale Hornets for the 2026 season.
Their departures mean that there are just five players still at the club, however the majority have been linked with moves away, and could be next out of the door at the Salford Community Stadium.
Salford Red Devils’ five remaining players following latest departure
It is worth noting that in the unlikely circumstance that the money from the owners to pay off the debts does arrive, the club will be part of the second tier system and will need to build a competitive squad for the year, should that occur.
Nene MacDonald
The PNG international initially left the club in June, taking unpaid leave, before sensationally returning to play the final two games of the league season.
One of the most threatening centres in the league on his day, MacDonald joined the Red Devils in 2024, and made 34 appearances, scoring 17 tries.
The 31-year-old actually has until the end of 2027 on his deal at the club, but it is extremely unlikely he will see that out, with reports elsewhere linking him to London Broncos.
Esan Marsters
Cook Islands international, Marsters, ranks third in the club’s appearance makers this campaign, falling just one short of Justin Sangare and Harvey Wilson with 23.
Suffering a shoulder injury in the club’s win over Castleford Tigers in July, he returned for the final three games of the year and managed to cross for a try in the club’s final Super League match at home to Wakefield Trinity
Joe Mellor
Mellor is a 200+ game Super League veteran, and after stints at both Toronto Wolfpack and Leigh Leopards, joined Salford in 2024.
Able to play in the halves or at hooker, the 34-year-old represented the Red Devils on 33 occasions, scoring nine tries.
Kai Morgan
Former Leeds Rhinos youngster, Morgan, also joined the club in 2024, in a bid for more first-team action, with the likes of Brodie Croft, Matt Frawley and Jack Sinfield all in his way of Super League minutes at Headingley.
Whilst it wasn’t in circumstances he expected, the youngster managed to make more appearances that what he probably thought this year, appearing 15 times, and was switched between the halves and hooker.
Still only 21, Morgan would be a good pick-up for any club looking to develop youth, especially given the potential he had in the Rhinos setup, which earned him a move to Salford in the first place.
Joe Shorrocks
Former Wigan man, Shorrocks, spent the second half of the year on-loan at Leeds, and played two matches under Brad Arthur.
The loose forward was another Red Devils recruit ahead of 2024, and he went on to make 44 appearances in total.
Reports have linked him with a move away, but nothing concrete has been said on the 25-year-old’s future.
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