Wigan coach Shaun Wane was highly satisfied with his side's efforts as they opened their Super League campaign with a routine 42-0 win at Salford.
Sam Tomkins stole the headlines by scoring three of the Warriors eight tries in a commanding performance which flattened new Salford owner Dr Marwan Koukash's welcoming.
Wigan lost some influential players over the winter in George Carmont, Brett Finch, Thomas Leuluai, Jeff Lima and Gareth Hock but Wane felt his players sent a good message to people writing them off.
He said: "I heard all those comments about us but I know we can play.
"That wasn't a complete performance - too many penalties and a little loose in contact. Once we fix that up we will be okay this year.
"It blew the cobwebs out. We had a few players a bit rusty but I'm happy with the performance.
"I knew it was going to be a test in the early period and all credit to them for sticking at it, but I thought we were quite good today."
Wane was also keen to make sure the praise was shared around even though it was inevitable Super League poster boy Tomkins would command most of the attention.
He said: "The front rowers were outstanding today. Sam is a great player and the work the middles (forwards) did was outstanding."
Five-goal Pat Richards, Matty Smith, Josh Charnley, Iain Thornley and Liam Farrell also touched down for Wigan, who despite encountering some early resistance, were never really threatened.
Salford coach Phil Veivers was not sparing in his criticism of his side despite accepting his the club's difficult winter had left his squad well short of being competitive.
The Reds were close to going out of business before Koukash's takeover was finalised this week.
Veivers said: "We didn't help ourselves throughout the game.
"In the first half we conceded two really poor tries.
"We came out in the second half and didn't get a lot of the ball.
"We were very poor with our skill levels, our execution of the skill and some decisions made defensively were poor.
"But I have always said we are probably three months behind every other club because we haven't had a pre-season.
"In that side were three bodies who haven't really trained with us.
"There might be some mitigating circumstances but at the end of the day you go on the field and you are able to make a tackle and pass a ball. That let us down tonight."
Salford City Reds kick off a new Super League season and a new era against Wigan on Friday night.
Marwan Koukash completed his takeover of the club on Thursday and promised that the Reds will be challenging for silverware in the next few years.
Coach Phil Veivers will hand debuts to former St Helens second-rower Andrew Dixon and newly-signed trio Ryan McGoldrick, Rhys Williams and Jack Murphy.
But another new signing, Martin Gleeson, and utility man Stuart Howarth will both miss the season curtain-raiser through injury.
New Australian signings Liam Foran and Vic Mauro are not available as they wait for their visas to be issued.
Foran, 24, a half-back, is the younger brother of New Zealand international Kieran Foran, while prop or second rower Mauro, 25, was a member of the Sea Eagles' 2011 Grand Final-winning team.
Wigan will also have some new faces in their line-up, with Blake Green and Scott Taylor - both signed from Hull KR - making their debuts.
Second rowers Chris Tuson and Harrison Hansen and prop Epalahame Lauaki are all ruled out through injury.
Salford: Broughton, Gibson, D. Williams, Fages, Jewitt, Godwin, McPherson, Ashurst, Wild, Gledhill, Boyle, James, Owen, Nero, Neal, R. Williams, McGoldrick, Dixon, Murphy
Wigan: Burke, Charnley, Dudson, Farrell, Flower, Gelling, Goulding, Green, Hughes, McIlorum, Mossop, O'Loughlin, Powell, Prescott, Richards, Smith, Taylor, Thornley, S. Tomkins
Salford captain Stephen Wilde will have an extra spring in his step when he leads his team out for Friday night's Super League clash with Wigan with the club's future assured at last.
The takeover of the beleaguered club by millionaire racehorse owner Marwan Koukash was completed in time for the City Reds' opening fixture at the Salford City Stadium.
Koukash, who becomes chairman of the new company, immediately pledged to transform the fortunes of Salford as he unveiled a five-year sponsorship deal with development company Peel Holdings and announced the completion of six new signings.
Three of the newcomers - Ryan McGoldrick, Rhys Williams and Jack Murphy - will go straight into Phil Veivers' team to face the Warriors, but Australian recruits Liam Foran and Vic Mauro must wait for their visas to be processed before they can link up with the club.
Koukash is confident he can help deliver silverware but admits the Reds could be in for a difficult year in 2013 after a close season of uncertainty badly affected their preparations.
"Our supporters are not stupid," Koukash said. "They realise they need to be patient.
"Some of the players are not going to be here for at least a month and, once they come in and mix with the existing team, it is going to take time."
Veivers told yesterday's news conference at Barton that the completion of the takeover had put a smile back on the faces of his players and Wilde admits he cannot wait for the season to start.
"It's a relief but it's exciting as well," he said. "The past three months have been a rollercoaster for the players, with having a rescue deal set up and then falling through.
"At one stage we were thinking we'd not start Super League and now people are talking about Salford being one of the biggest clubs in a few years' time.
"We've stuck together as a team and worked hard in the off season and we'll give everything tonight. The fans will want to see some passion and hopefully we'll give them that."