Salford Red Devils’ turbulent season ends in defeat

Salford Red Devils 16 - 52 Wakefield Trinity 

Salford Red Devils’ turbulent season as fans staged protests against the club’s ownership during a home defeat to play-off bound Wakefield Trinity

Author | David Yates

Stadium | Salford Community Stadium

Salford Red Devils protest before final Super League match.

More reaction to come on https://t.co/FbSQJAxBRx https://t.co/hzS29fyGCI

— SNA (@Super_Affili4te) September 20, 2025

Wakefield, who finished sixth, scored nine tries despite falling 12 points behind in the opening stages. For Salford, the afternoon was overshadowed by supporter unrest, with a demonstration taking place before kick-off and a number of fans spilling onto the pitch in the closing stages and again after the final whistle. It marked the club’s 700th Super League match, one that may also be their last for some time.

The campaign has been blighted by crisis off the field as much as on it. Key players have departed, wages have been paid late, one fixture was cancelled because of “welfare concerns”, and a winding-up petition has twice been adjourned in the courts. On the pitch, Salford managed only three wins all year, finishing bottom of the table by six points with a points difference of -895.

A closer look at what happened on the pitch

Salford led 12-0 thanks to tries from Esan Marsters and Nathan Connell but an impressive Trinity side were always going to pull away and exert their superiority. They did that with 52 unanswered points to warm up in style for their first playoff campaign since 2012.

Walker then grabbed a late consolation try for the home side when he dived in at the corner. This was the cue for a number of Salford fans to show their emotion, allowing them to once again demonstrate anger and frustration at their owners.

Salford Red Devils react to emotional night.

Mikey told us: “I’ve been watching this club for thirty years. I really hope last night was not my last.”

Darren added: “A note to the owners of our club. Thank you for dismantling something that has been a hub for passionate supporters. What you have done is nothing short of heartbreaking. Over the years, friendships have been forged on terraces and in stands, at home and on the road, but you have stripped that away. We are left wondering what future, if any, you have in mind for next season, or whether this is the end of Salford Red Devils altogether. Your greed, arrogance and disregard for the very people who have kept this club alive is nothing less than shameful.”

Glenn was full of praise for Salford’s head coach, he told us: “Paul Rowley deserves to be named coach of the season. He has shown remarkable loyalty to the club and an unwavering commitment in the most difficult of circumstances.”