Wakefield along with Salford were real surprise packages last season. Both sides battled it out for a top four spot in the regular season. The Red Devils just pipping Trinity after 23 rounds to finish 4th with Wakefield not far behind in 5th.

The two sides met 4 times last season. Trinity won three of those matches with Salford taking the spoils in the Challenge cup quarter final 30-6.

Wakefield’s young coach former Wigan, Hull, Halifax and Hull Kr star Chris Chester, an excellent player with all his clubs has grown a really good reputation with Trinity, turning his side in to a team to be feared. A side that is always very tough to beat on their own ground at Belle Vue.

Prior to the 2018 season again they have recruited very smartly adding to their already strong squad. There’s some excellent young local talent to watch out for in Max Jowitt, Tom Johnstone, James Bachelor and Ryan Hampshire. Former Salford favourites Ben Jones Bishop, Mason Caton Brown and Matty Ashurst will be wanting to put one over their former side.

Super league home record

Salford won 13

Wakefield won 9

Draws 1

1999 Salford 28 Wakefield 14

2000 Salford 14 Wakefield 22

2001 Salford 26 Wakefield 16

2001 Salford 24 Wakefield 32

2002 Salford 42 Wakefield 18

2002 Salford 22 Wakefield 22

2004 Salford 20 Wakefield 27

2005 Salford 16 Wakefield 14

2005 Salford 37 Wakefield 0

2006 Salford 48 Wakefield 10

2006 Salford 26 Wakefield 12

2007 Salford 18 Wakefield 35

2009 Salford 24 Wakefield 30

2010 Salford 16 Wakefield 12

2011 Salford 34 Wakefield 12

2012 Salford 34 Wakefield 42 (played at Leigh)

2013 Salford 10 Wakefield 46

2014 Salford 18 Wakefield 14

2015 Salford 24 Wakefield 18

2015 Salford 34 Wakefield 26 (middle eights)

2016 Salford 38 Wakefield 8

2017 Salford 24 Wakefield 34

2017 Salford 18 Wakefield 43 (Super 8s)

They played for both

Here are a few players who represented both clubs:

Ben Jones Bishop, Mason Caton Brown, Tim Smith, Kevin Locke, Matty Ashurst, Ged Byrne, Garen Casey, Shane Kenward, Jason Critchley, Ashley Gibson, Sean Gleeson, Bobbie Goulding, Josh Griffin, George Griffin, Darrell Griffin, Phil Hassan, James Hasson, Stuart Howarth, Alan Hunte, Greg Johnson, Warren Jowitt, Andy Kirk, Tommy Lee, Francis Maloney, Martin Moana, Kris Tassell, Jason Walton, Jeremy Smith.

Saturday 11th March 2006 a match to remember

Salford 48 Wakefield 10.

Wakefield were helpless to stop Salford’s first half masterclass. Their passing was slick, the support play was superb and their defence was tenacious at times.

Incredibly, Salford, who led 36-0 at the break, missed only one tackle in the first 40 minutes. With inspirational skipper Malc Alker failing to appear for the second half, the Reds let their standards slip but that was immaterial as their fourth win in five games was already in the bag.

Besides, with their feet firmly off the gas Salford still looked the better team.

The half back pairing of Andrew Dunemann and Luke Robinson worked wonders.

They carved open Wakefield’s defence time after time.

Loose forward Simon Finnigan was the main beneficiary, becoming only the second Salford forward ever to score a Super League hat-trick.

Finnigan’s finishing was different class but it was his all round game that was a joy to watch.

With Finnigan keeping Chris Charles out of the team, Salford were missing a regular goal kicker. David Hodgson was proving a good stand in though with a fine kick display.

He set a Salford Super League goal kicking record I think match converting all eight of the Reds’ tries.

It had been a fantastic start to the 2006 season for Salford with early wins against Warrington, Catalan and Wigan.

This certainly was a memorable night at The Willows. One of those games where almost everything came off and went right.

The team line ups that night were ;

SALFORD REDS: Fitzpatrick; Hodgson, Moule, Littler, Wilshere; Dunemann, Robinson; Baldwin, Alker, Highton, Coley, Brocklehurst, Finnigan. Subs used: Clough, Haggerty, Clayton, Langi. Tries: Highton (2), Finnigan (3), Fitzpatrick, Brocklehurst, Robinson. Goals: Hodgson (8).

WAKEFIELD: Halpenny; White, Demetriou, Henderson, Tadulala; Obst, Jeffries; MacGillivray, Betham, Elima, Solomona, Field, Applegarth. Subs used: Griffin, Korkidas, March, Saxton. Tries: Field, Demetriou. Goal: March.

Friday’s match

Wakefield sit one place above Salford in the Super League table with ten points. A thrilling 24-20 victory at home to St Helens last week just goes to show that Trinity on their day can test any team in the league.

Salford are fresh from a 12-30 victory at Huddersfield last time out and will be looking to cement a place in the top eight. Ian Watson and Chris Chester two young coaches who are both trying to build their sides up patiently.

Wakefield have two half backs in Liam Finn and Jacob Miller who compliment each other so well. For Salford, half back has been a difficult conundrum for coach Watson. Robert Lui who is having an excellent season at stand off has played along side a few different scrum halves already this term. With Josh Wood, Jack Littlejohn and loan signing Jake Shorrocks all vying for a starting position at number 7.

Wakefield also have plenty of pace in their back line, it’s going to take a good Salford performance to get the two points. The action gets under way at the AJ Bell Stadium on Friday night at 8pm.

Enjoy the game everyone, Paul Whiteside.