SALFORD face a race against time to get a team ready for the opening game after being relaunched just weeks before kick-off.
The old Red Devils club were wound up at the beginning of December by the High Court, the culmination of years of financial difficulties and, in the final 10 months, a Super League season that resembled a slow motion car crash.
Their slow demise embarrassed the sport, and the debts left behind are lingering stains. Yet out of their liquidation, a new club has emerged to continue Salford’s 152-year history.
The consortium fronted by Mason Caton-Brown have appointed another former Salford player, Ryan Brierley, as chief executive, and Mike Grady as head coach, but both have a mighty task on their hands to get things up and running.
They will continue to play at the CorpAcq Stadium, but will do so as a part-time outfit on far lower costs than what previously made the Red Devils a high-achieving but unsustainable outfit.
Making the start line at all will be an unqualified success, although with no central funding and the toughest fixture list of any side, things won’t exactly get easier from there.
One to watch
The Championship season is due to open in Salford on Friday, January 16 with the visit of Greater Manchester neighbours and Super League-chasing Oldham.
It seemed something of a cruel joke when the fixtures were released, but it should be a joyous occasion with the community out in force to show their support.
Being competitive in the fixture is another matter, but some things are more important.
Squad: Jacob Andrews-Smith, Cole Appleby, Noah Appleby, Leunbou Bardyel-Wells, Liam Cooper, Brad Dwyer, Ollie Garmston, Jack Gatcliffe, Charlie Glover, Owen Haldenby, Oscar Hansen, Joe Hartley, Sam Hill, Damona Lola, Lewis Pilling, Matty Ross, Reece Staunton, Will Tilleke, Rafael Van Osselaer, Josh Wagstaffe, Finley Yates
Ins: Ollie Garmston (St Helens), Damola Lola (unattached), Owen Haldenby (Hull FC), Joe Hartley (Midlands), Oscar Hansen (Leigh East), Will Tilleke (unattached), Reece Staunton (Wigan St Judes), Matty Ross (Haresfinch), Brad Dwyer (Leigh)
Outs: Harvey Wilson (Catalans), Declan Murphy (Hull KR), Jimmy Shields (Swinton), Shane Wright (St Helens), Justin Sangaré (York), Jayden Nikorima (Bradford), Sam Davis (London), Loghan Lewis (Bradford), Sam Stone (Warrington), Nathan Connell (Widnes), Charlie McCurrie (Swinton), Jamie Pye (Rochdale), Kai Morgan (Sheffield), Joe Shorrocks (St Helens), Joe Mellor (Bradford), Esan Marsters (Bradford), Nene Macdonald (St Helens), Jack Walker (Oldham), Isaac Shaw (Midlands)