Salford’s Golden Eighty!

A near perfect first half performance with no errors and no penalties conceded put Salford in complete control against a Warrington side that looked out of their depth at times.

The Red Devils had two debutants on the bench in Loghan Lewis and Harvey Wilson. Chris Hankinson continued at full back and put in another very assured performance. Joe Mellor started at hooker and his busy work at dummy half had Warrington back peddling time after time.

It was a fine dry night although slightly cooler for the time of year. After last Saturdays’s defeat at Wembley in the Challenge Cup final Warrington were after a response in front of an expectant home support.

Salford seemed to have a real spring in their step. Paul Rowley and Kurt Haggerty’s game plan unfolded to perfection.

After signing a new contract in the week Sam Stone showed all the quality of a seasoned back rower. A fantastic engine and work rate combined with a real intelligence on attack. Stone broke clear and his super inside pass sent Nene McDonald racing over to open the scoring after five minutes. Marc Sneyd converted, 0-6.

Warrington’s passing seemed loose at times as they lacked any sort of composure. Tim Lafai pinched an interception before a penalty followed later in the set. Sneyd didn’t think twice as he took the two points on offer 0-8.

Another break down the left saw Deon Cross throw a neat dummy to back himself and he charged to the line to extend the lead. This time Sneyd hit the post but at 0-12 Warrington looked pretty despondent.

The home side fell off tackles and Salford’s willingness to promote the ball and back each other up provided another try. Kallum Watkins broke to send Marc Sneyd in and he added the conversion, 0-18.

The Wolves continued to hesitate especially from Sneyd’s glorious kicking game.

Loghan Lewis made an immediate impact of the bench. Charging the ball in at full pelt along with a fearless attitude in defence the young Australian is set to be a huge favourite with the supporters.

Sneyd is a real rugby league architect, a master craftsmen at his trade. He calmly slotted over a drop goal right on the hooter to polish off a sensational half.

At 0-19 Salford went looking to knock Warrington out at the start of the second half. Ferocious defence forced a mistake and on the back of that a lovely move on the left sent Hankinson over. The video referee overturned the try which seemed quite a harsh decision.

The Wolves eventually got over the line despite a heroic defensive effort from Cross to get underneath Roderick Tai. The video referee took plenty of time checking all angles. Eventually the try was awarded but the conversion missed. Moments later the home side were in again. Matty Ashton escaped Chris Atkins tackle to fly down the left flank. Again the kick missed and Salford hung on to a healthy 8-19 lead.

The Wolves were beginning to find a gear but when Salford needed a big play Sneyd was the man to provide it. A pin point kick dropped into the arms of Cross who fell over the line and the travelling supporters went potty behind the stick in joyous scenes.

Sneyd lined the conversion up from the touch line as the Warrington supporters clattered the advertising hoardings, it sound like a freight train coming in. As cool as you like Sneyd floated the kick through the sticks before saluting the home supporters.

The Wolves stretched Salford in the final minute to score out wide from Tai but as the hooter sounded the night belonged to Paul Rowley’s side. Certain clubs in Super League might have bigger squads, higher budgets and more status in the sport but what Salford have under Rowley and Haggerty is pretty special. All the players are willing to go to the absolute limits and that showed. Yes Salford might run out of bodies in the second half of the season but on the other hand they might not and who knows where the 2024 adventure will end.

Warrington 14 Salford 25.

Paul Whiteside.

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos.