Paul Whiteside prepares us for our first away trip of the season with his match preview.

Wakefield were promoted to Super League in 1998 after beating Featherstone Rovers in a thrilling Division one Grand Final 24-22. Since then they’ve more than held there own in the top flight. Making appearances in the end of season play offs in 2004, 2009, 2012, 2016 and 2017.

It’s not all been plain sailing for Trinity though having escaped relegation on the final day in 2002 at Salford’s expense and beating Castleford in that famous winner stays up game at Belle Vue in 2006.

Salford have struggled in away games at Wakefield over the last 20 years. Our record there since 1999 reads:

Won – 3

Drawn – 1

Lost – 15

There have been quite a lot of players who have played for both clubs in the Super League era.

Shane Kenward, Warren Jowitt, Bobbie Goulding, kris Tassell, Martin Moana, Phil Hassan, Michael Korkidas, Darrell Griffin, Josh Griffin, George Griffin, Andy Kirk, Tommy Saxton, Paul White, Sean Gleeson, Ashley Gibson, Ben Gledhill, Jeremy Smith, Stuart Howarth, Greg Johnson, Josh Veivers, Tim Smith, Matty Ashurst, kevin Locke, Jason Walton, Mason Caton Brown, Ben Jones Bishop and James Hasson!

Looking back at the 19 occasions we have visited Belle Vue the match on Sunday 10th March 2013 was quite a memorable one.

Alan Hunte was standing in as caretaker coach following Phil Veivers sacking a week earlier. After Peter Fox opened the scoring for Wakefield, Salford replied through Jodie Broughton and Lee Jewitt.

The Wildcats hit back through Dean Collis and the sides traded further tries before the break from Salford’s Theo Fages and Wakefield’s Frankie Mariano.

Jack Murphy scored a fourth Salford try before Danny Washbrook and Ben Cockayne scored for Wakefield. Marc Sneyd and Paul Sykes then dropped goals in a tense final quarter. The travelling Supporters finally had something to cheer about after a tough start to the season with some heavy defeats.

On a day when the temperature barely reached zero, Hunte’s young players put in a fantastic performance to warm the hearts of the Salford faithful, with Sneyd and Fages leading the way. As the final hooter sounded it finished Wakefield Trinity – 23 Salford City Reds – 23.

Friday’s fixture

Looking forward to our 2018 fixture on Friday night it promises to be one tough game. Wakefield got off to an excellent start to the season beating newly promoted Hull KR comfortably last time out. After an excellent season under Chris Chester in 2017 Trinity have the confidence to aim high again.

Exciting Australian forward Pauli Pauli, young stars  Ryan Hampshire and Jordan Baldwinson along with the vastly experienced Justin Horo have been added to this already  competitive squad.

Ian Watson will be looking for a response from his players on Friday night in what promises to be a thrilling encounter. The action gets under way at 7:35pm.

Purchasing your ticket prior to matchday ensures Salford Red Devils keep 25% of your ticket price and guarantees the lowest price for you as matchday prices increase at the turnstiles.