IT was great to see Salford playing in front of their enthusiastic supporters on Friday as the new directors managed to put together a squad of players, a coaching team and club officials in less than a month, after they got the nod for RFL membership on 22nd December.

I’ve always had a tremendously high regard for Salford supporters and it was good to see them giving such great support to their team on Friday night, when the event mattered far more than the result.

Salford are unlucky in the sense that they have been given the toughest set of fixtures in the Championship competition, whereas as a new club they should have been given the easiest fixture list.

That particular privilege goes to Newcastle Thunder, who failed to win a match in each of the last two seasons, but whose link with York now means that they are much more capable than at any time in recent years.

On Sunday they travelled to Midlands Hurricanes, who also have quite a strong squad this season, and secured a notable 28-10 victory to end that long losing run.

I would be very surprised if Newcastle didn’t make the play-offs this season after that opening-day result.

Some people may question their close links to York, but as far as I’m concerned it’s great to see the team from the northeast improving its fortunes compared to its recent miserable seasons.