Hull v Salford.

It’s a very old cliche a game of two halves but that is exactly the way last thursday’s match at Warrington went. Salford were fantastic in the first half, moving the ball wide at every opportunity. The support play was sensational and it was great to watch. Salford lacked composure in the second half but losing Ryan Brierley to a very soft sin binning changed the game completely. Warrington had all the possession and with their huge pack of forwards the momentum they built was unstoppable.

Two eight point tries is unheard of in a match. I think I’ve seen maybe three or four in the thirty odd years I’ve watched Rugby League. On Thursday we got two in the same forty minutes. I find it hard to except that one team is to blame for misdemeanours in a match. All teams lie on, all teams slow the play the ball down, all teams spot and lie off side. All teams will do whatever they can to gain an advantage to win a match, that’s the nature of sport.

Do I think Salford were a shade unlucky last Thursday? Yes I do but having said that full credit to Warrington they played some good stuff in the second half and if they keep a fit and healthy squad they could be a real contender in 2023.

As Salford supporters we can stay really positive. We can give any team in the Super League problems, the only worry at the moment is our small squad and once again this week we’ve lost more players to injury.

Hull made a good solid start to 2023 with two victories but were hammered away to Catalans last weekend. The Airlie birds have made some exciting signings with Tex Hoy and Jake Clifford joining the club. They also swooped to sign Brad Dwyer from Leeds. Almost every season Hull are fancied by the pundits and press. Time will tell if they have the right balance to the squad.

Super League away record.

Hull 22

Draws 0

Salford 3

1998 Hull 32 Salford 0

1999 Hull 18 Salford 12

2000 Hull 26 Salford 22

2001 Hull 40 Salford 8

2002 Hull 28 Salford 8

2002 Hull 60 Salford 16

2004 Hull 82 Salford 6

2005 Hull 20 Salford 6

2006 Hull 11 Salford 10

2007 Hull 48 Salford 26

2009 Hull 14 Salford 12

2010 Hull 34 Salford 12

2011 Hull 52 Salford 16

2012 Hull 34 Salford 26

2013 Hull 18 Salford 13

2014 Hull 30 Salford 8

2015 Hull 24 Salford 20

2016 Hull 42 Salford 20

2017 Hull 18 Salford 54

2017 Hull 32 Salford 18 (Super Eights)

2018 Hull 45 Salford 14

2019 Hull 35 Salford 32

2019 Hull 22 Salford 44

2020 Hull 22 Salford 28 (played behind closed doors at Warrington).

2022 Hull 48 Salford 16

They played for both.

Paul Fletcher, Richie Barnett, Brian Blacker, Jodie Broughton, Craig Coleman, Josh Griffin, Brad Hepi, Mark Johnson, Daniel Holdsworth, Alan Hunte, Stuart Howarth, Warren Jowitt, Tommy Lee, Ryan Mcgoldrick, Craig Murdock, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Tommy Saxton, Scott Taylor, Jordan Turner, Martin Gleeson, Josh Jones and Marc Sneyd.

A match to remember Saturday 17th August 2019.

Hull 22 Salford 44.

This match kicked off at tea time on a lovely summers day on the East Coast. Salford were in good form but this match on paper looked a really tough test. The Red Devils had won just one of the previous visits to the KCOM stadium and amongst those defeats their were quite a few heavy ones.

The first half saw plenty of action at both ends of the ground. Ken Sio opened the scoring with a try for Salford. Hull hit back with tries from Scott Taylor, Mickey Paea and Bureta Faraimo to lead 16-6 after twenty minutes.

Salford then showed a real desire and character to haul themselves back level with tries from Sio and Lee Mossop. A breath taking first half came to a close 16-16.

Salford started the second half with a burst of tries. Sio grabbed his second before Mossop bagged his brace try to give the Red Devils a cushion.

Jordan Lane pulled a try back for a Hull on the hour mark but this 2019 Salford team had a spirit and togetherness to win at all costs. Jackson Hastings pulled the strings and his desire in both attack and defence was infectious.

Every player stood up and did their job. Two excellent tries from Krisnan Inu and one for the hard working Hastings put Hull in their place as Salford brushed their Yorkshire opponents aside.

The Red Devils made it five wins on the trot with this victory and the wins kept coming with Ian Watson’s side finishing third after the regular season matches.

Hull FC: Shaul; Naulago, Tuimavave, Griffin, Faraimo; Connor, Sneyd; Taylor, Houghton, Paea, Lane, Westerman, Ellis.

Interchanges: Bowden, Buchanan, Fash, Satae.

Salford: Evalds; Sio, Welham, Bibby, Inu; Lolohea, Hastings; Mossop, Tomkins, Walker, Jones, Lannon, Burke.

Interchanges: Flanagan, Lussick, J Johnson, Nakubuwai.

Referee: Scott Mikalauskas.

Attendance: 11,217.

Saturday’s match.

Salford haven’t got a very good record on the West side of Hull but when we do win here it is usually pretty spectacular. The 2017 and 2019 wins were both very special and who could forget the golden point extra time win in the Challenge Cup when Rangi Chase dropped the goal.

The Kcom stadium is a magnificent ground, the pitch is long and wide, perfect for free flowing and expansive Rugby League.

I’ve already mentioned Clifford and Hoy but Hull have plenty of players to watch out for. Ben McNamara is an exciting half back and Brad Fash is a forward that always impresses me, he also has the best haircut in the League!!

Scott Taylor is a tough forward and we all know Danny Houghton is as solid as they come at hooker.

It was reported in the press this week that Salford could be without Oliver Partington and Joe Burgess for a number of months and this will be a huge blow to what is a relatively light squad. It will be interesting to see Paul Rowley’s

Twenty one man squad announcement. James Greenwood has recently spent time on loan at Barrow but his dreadful luck with injuries continued too.

Saturday is another big test but I am sure the spirit of this group of players will shine through. Marc Sneyd will be looking to impress against his former club and with Brodie Croft alongside him these two can make Salford tick.

The action gets under way at 3pm.

Safe travels and enjoy the match.

Paul Whiteside.

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos.