Where are they now? The inaugural Red Devils squad following Salford rebrand

Josh McAllister
Salford Red Devils 2014

In May 2013, then-Salford City Reds owner Dr Marwan Koukash announced that the club will change their name to Salford Red Devils from the 2014 season. 

Koukash unveiled 12 new signings ahead of the 2014 campaign including the likes of Adrian Morley, Tony Puletua and Rangi Chase, while Kevin Locke also made the mid-season switch from the NRL.

Brian Noble, now 62, went on to become the director of football at the club, with assistant Iestyn Harris was appointed the side’s new head coach during the season.

The club were later found guilty of breaching salary cap rules that season and became the first top-flight side in almost a decade to be issued with a points deduction. They were also fined £5,000 after exceeding the-then £1.825m salary cap in the 2014 season.

The inaugural Salford Red Devils squad

Kevin Locke

Salford Red Devils Kevin Locke, SWPix
Salford’s Kevin Locke in 2014. Picture By Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com.

Full-back Locke made the mid-season switch from New Zealand Warriors to join Salford in 2014, having been granted an early release by his NRL club after finding himself behind Sam Tomkins on the pecking order.

His last club is listed as Glenora Bears, a rugby league club based in Glen Eden in New Zealand who compete in the Auckland Rugby League’s Fox Memorial competition. 

Jake Mullaney

The Australian full-back signed from Parramatta Eels, and made 12 appearances for the Red Devils before joining Bradford in 2015.

He kicked 30 goals for Salford and was the club’s highest points scorer in 2014 with 68. 

Danny Williams

Winger Danny Williams joined Salford in 2011, and 2014 was his last season with the club before joining Bradford, where his last appearances came in 2016. 

He won two caps for England and also played for Newcastle Falcons between 2008-2011. 

Martin Gleeson

Martin Gleeson spent two seasons at Salford, and retired in September 2014 after making 14 appearances that season. 

The former Great Britain centre most recently linked up with former St Helens team-mate Sean Long at Featherstone after leaving his role with the RFU.

He had worked as attack coach under Eddie Jones, who was sacked and replaced by Steve Borthwick as England rugby union boss.

Josh Griffin

Super League centre Josh Griffin signed a two-year contract with Salford in 2014 after impressing on trial.

He later joined Hull FC in 2017, where he currently features under Tony Smith. 

Junior Sa’ua

Junior Sa'u, 2014, Salford Red Devils
Junior Sa’u races away for a try in 2014 against Bradford. Picture by Martin Rickett/PA Archive/PA Images.

Junior Sa’u was one of 12 pre-season signings made by Salford ahead of 2014 from the Melbourne Storm. He went on to make 142 appearances for the club, scoring 59 tries, before going on to appear for Leigh, Wakefield and Keighley.

He currently plays for Old Glory DC, based in Washington, D.C., in the Major League Rugby competition.

Francis Meli

The outside-back joined the Red Devils from St Helens, where he made more than 200 appearances between 2006 and 2013. 

He retired at the conclusion of the 2014 season, having also represented New Zealand, Samoa and the Exiles during his career. 

He scored 14 tries in 18 appearances at the AJ Bell Stadium, the club’s leading try scorer in 2014. 

Rangi Chase

New Zealand-born half-back Rangi Chase joined Salford in 2014 from Castleford, having earned England honours during his time at the Jungle.

The 2011 Man of Steel winner made 42 appearances for the club across two seasons, and later went on to rejoin Castleford before appearing for the likes of Widnes, Doncaster, Rochdale and West Wales Raiders. He is currently out of the game.

Tim Smith

Salford were believed to have paid a ‘substantial fee’ for half-back Tim Smith from Wakefield. However, after returning to his former club on loan during 2014, he was later released by the Red Devils. 

He made 14 appearances for Salford, scoring twice. 

Adrian Morley

Adrian Morley, PA
Adrian Morley in action for Salford against Wakefield, 2014. Picture by Martin Rickett/PA Archive/PA Images.

Another big-name signing for the 2014 season, Adrian Morley swapped Warrington for Salford and later retired in 2015.

Morley, now 46, works as a business development manager and can be often seen giving his expert analysis on Betfred’s The Last Tackle. 

Tommy Lee 

Hooker Tommy Lee made the move from London Broncos for 2014, and made 51 appearances across three seasons before joining St Helens. 

Lee announced his retirement in 2019, before later joining Halifax in 2020 to help fill the void created by the retirement of Keal Carlile. 

Listing the likes of Hull, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Hull KR as previous clubs during his career, Lee now works in sales.

Lama Tasi

Tasi, now 33, made the Super League switch with Salford from Brisbane Broncos, having made his debut with Sydney Roosters in 2011.

Tasi had two stints with Salford, the first between 2014-2015 and the second from 2017-2018, featuring for St Helens in between. 

The one-time Samoa international last played for Warrington in Super League in 2019 after signing a one-year deal.

Tony Puletua

Tony Puletua, PA
Tony Puletua in action against Widnes during Magic Weekend 2014, Etihad Stadium. Picture by Anna Gowthorpe/PA Archive/PA Images.

Back-rower Tony Puletua was another eye-catching signing, who made the short move from St Helens. Although, it was somewhat his signing that sparked interest in Salford’s salary cap.

His last professional appearance came in 2015 for Hull KR, and was Samoa’s media manager for the Pacific Test in 2016.

Gareth Hock

Gareth Hock joined Salford from Wigan.

Harrison Hansen

Ex-Samoa and New Zealand international Harrison Hansen also made the switch from Wigan, signing a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

However, after just two seasons – with 52 appearances – he later joined Leigh.

The 37-year-old back-rower is still plying his trade in the Championship with Toulouse.

Theo Fages

Theo Fages joined Salford as a youngster and progressed through the youth ranks until he made his debut in 2013 against Wigan.

The French international was in the St Helens team that won back-to-back Grand Finals in 2019 and 2020, but was forced to watch through injury in 2021 after breaking a shoulder against Castleford in July.

He joined Huddersfield on a three-year deal ahead of 2022 under Ian Watson.

Logan Tomkins

Logan Tomkins joined the Red Devils on an initial loan in 2014, and again in 2015, before making the permanent move from 2016.

He featured in the 2019 Grand Final defeat against St Helens, and later joined Widnes before announcing his retirement at the end of 2021.

Darrell Griffin

Prop forward Darrell Griffin made more than 300 Super League appearances across his career, and featured for Salford between 2013 and 2015, making 61 appearances.

Now 41, the ex-player is a contracts manager.

Andrew Dixon

Andrew Dixon is currently in his second stint with Salford, and most recently linked up with Widnes on a short-term loan.

He returned to the Red Devils ahead of the 2023 campaign from Toulouse under now-head coach Paul Rowley.

Shannan McPherson

Ex-utility forward Shannan McPherson joined Salford on a three-year deal from South Sydney Rabbitohs, having originally signed with Crusaders until their withdrawal from Super League.

He was released by the Red Devils midway through 2014 to return to Australia and now works as a personal trainer.

Steve Rapira

Prop forward Steve Rapira featured in one season in Super League with Salford in 2014, having joined from New Zealand Warriors.

He made 20 appearances.

Matty Ashurst

Matty Ashurst Salford Red Devils, PA
Matty Ashurst dives over to score a try during the 2014 Super League Magic Weekend match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Photo by Anna Gowthorpe/PA Archive/PA Images.

Current Wakefield captain Matty Ashurst featured across three seasons with Salford, with 2014 being his last before heading to Belle Vue.

The back-rower joined the side ahead of 2012 from St Helens and made a total of 75 appearances, scoring 12 tries.

Adam and Jordan Walne

Adam and Jordan Walne began their professional careers with Salford, making their debuts in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

The pair stepped away from the game in 2022 whilst with Barrow due to concussion injuries.

Jason Walton

Jason Waltson returned to Salford for the 2014 season alongside fellow Batley outside-back Greg Johnson. The pair were among the 12 new signings announced by the club ahead of the campaign.

He later featured for London Broncos, Wakefield, Featherstone and Dewsbury, before he was released by the latter at the end of 2022.

Greg Johnson

The now-33-year-old winger made 105 appearances for Salford between 2014 and 2019, and currently plays for Batley in the Championship with squad number 29.

Stuart Howarth

The hooker made more than 200 career appearances across his career, with 2014 his last at Salford.

He retired from the sport after a stint with Rochdale in 2020 and recently became a headteacher of a new school in Wigan, according to Wigan Today.

Mason Caton-Brown

London-born Mason Caton-Brown joined Salford from London ahead of 2014, and featured for the side until 2016, joining Wakefield.

He also featured for Toronto and Jamaica on the international scene, and left Wakefield during his second stint in 2019 to “pursue other business interests“.

Niall Evalds

Full-back Niall Evalds made his Super League debut in 2013 with Salford against Catalans, and later featured in the 2019 Grand Final with the club under then-coach Ian Watson.

Evalds scored 1111 tries in 160 appearances.

He currently plays for Castleford, but has recently suffered a potential season-ending injury.

Greg Eden

Greg Eden featured on loan at Salford from Hull KR. He made five appearances and scored once, and also currently plays for Castleford under head coach Andy Last.

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