Salford v Leeds.
In sport as a supporter or a player you want to be involved in the big games. Saturday’s match is definitely one of those with both sides fighting for the top six playoffs. Looking at the round of fixtures in Super League this coming weekend and Salford v Leeds is the stand out fixture. The Red Devils record at home and away to Leeds over the years doesn’t make good reading, however in the past few years Salford have managed to get the upper hand on a number of occasions.
Throughout the 1970s Leeds always got the better of Salford in the big matches including a fair few cup ties. Leeds won every meeting in the decade of the 1980s and Salford waited thirty two years to win at Headingley between 1977 and 2009.
The two sides finally met in a Cup Final in 2020. The Challenge Cup Final at Wembley stadium. It was a bittersweet moment for Salford and their loyal supporters. With the global COVID pandemic the match was agonisingly played behind closed doors. Once again though despite being on top for much of the game Salford we’re beaten by Luke Gale’s drop goal 17-16.
The Red Devils have a four point cushion over the Rhinos and victory on Saturday would open that to six. This game is going to settle anything though with both sides having a tough run in. Salford still have to go away to Hull Kingston Roves, Hull FC, Wigan and St.Helens as well as a very tricky looking match at the Magic Weekend against an every improving Leigh side.
Chris Atkin missed the victory over Castleford and he’s now made ninety nine appearances for Salford. Joe Shorrocks is currently on ninety nine career appearances and Tim Lafai is on two hundred and forty nine respectively.
Going back to what we were talking about previously regarding Salford’s record against Leeds I would say that it adds a bit more edge to this fixture. The Rhinos have a lots of success in the Super League era and are one of the clubs that have set a real benchmark. Since their last title success in 2017 they’ve finished outside the top four for the last six seasons although they were runners up in the 2022 Grand Final.
I think most Salford supporters will agree that form has been a little patchy over the last month or so. Wins at home to Hull and Castleford were hard going and could have gone the other way. Defeats away to Catalans and Huddersfield were disappointing but I think sometimes we need to remember that it’s difficult with such a small squad to keep producing the goods week in week out. Players are playing big minutes to cover for injured players, players may be carrying knocks but have put their hand up to play because their is no one to fill the gap. To be sat in fifth position in august is quite and achievement. With a bit of luck and rub of the green who knows where this seasons journey will end.
Super League home record.
Salford 5
Draws 0
Leeds 23
1997 Salford 20 Leeds 33
1998 Salford 6 Leeds 40
1999 Salford 30 Leeds 38
2000 Salford 26 Leeds 34
2001 Salford 14 Leeds 19
2002 Salford 16 Leeds 48
2004 Salford 0 Leeds 44
2005 Salford 12 Leeds 30
2006 Salford 18 Leeds 24
2006 Salford 18 Leeds 19
2007 Salford 26 Leeds 30
2009 Salford 24 Leeds 30
2010 Salford 22 Leeds 31
2011 Salford 22 Leeds 30
2012 Salford 16 Leeds 56
2013 Salford 16 Leeds 42
2014 Salford 18 Leeds 22
2015 Salford 18 Leeds 28
2016 Salford 14 Leeds 10
2017 Salford 24 Leeds 50
2018 Salford 38 Leeds 22
2019 Salford 14 Leeds 46
2019 Salford 28 Leeds 16
2020 Salford 8 Leeds 22
2021 Salford 12 Leeds 38
2022 Salford 26 Leeds 12
2022 Salford 23 Leeds 8
2023 Salford 14 Leeds 16
They played for both.
Here are a few players to wear the red of Salford and the blue and amber of Leeds.
Luke Burgess, Joel Moon, Mark Brooke-Cowden, Andrew Dunemann, Damien Gibson, Ensene Famailo, Phil Ford, Ashley Gibson, Phil Hassan, Weller Hauraki, Ben Jones Bishop, Andy Kirk, Andy Gregory, Francis Maloney, Robert Lui, David Hulme, Richie Myler and David Young.
A match to Remember Friday 27th July 2018.
Salford 38 Leeds 22.
Twelve Man Salford Send Rhinos Packing.
With the arrival of Jackson Hastings there was a slight sense of optimism before kick off at The AJ Bell Stadium.
The excitement seemed to get the better of Salford though and a mistake deep in there own half on the very first set gifted Leeds possession. Brad Dwyer darted over to put the visitors ahead.
The Red Devils response was quite spectacular, Ed Chamberlain shot through the heart of the Rhinos defence. Moments later Ryan Lannon was in to score.
Good work from Josh Jones going forward laid the platform and a quick play the ball saw Hastings spot a gap to race away. Niall Evalds was in support to score a thrilling try.
Salford began to turn the screw, forcing Leeds in to a mistake in there own half. A razor sharp kick in to the in goal area caught The Rhinos out and Hastings pounced for a debut try.
With just 18 minutes on the clock a near perfect first quarter was completed by Salford’s fourth try. This time Chamberlain showed his tremendous pace to open up a 22-6 lead.
Lee Mossop was then sent off after an alleged head butt. From the resulting penalty Liam Sutcliffe scored for Leeds 22-12.
Right on the half time hooter out of nothing Robert Lui scooted over to give the 12 men of Salford a deserved 26-12 cushion.
Former Salford player Joel Moon showed some nice footwork before sending the ball out wide for Tom Briscoe to score the first points of the second half.
Despite being a man down and losing Jackson Hastings in the first half to injury Salford kept there shape and really dug deep in defence.
With an hour on the clock Ed Chamberlain attempted a penalty kick from 40 yards out. The kick just shaved the post, as Leeds regathered possession Robert Lui managed to snatch the ball back. Niall Evalds glided over for his second try of the match.
By this time the rain had made the pitch quite greasy and Salford played the conditions immaculately. Lui pegging The Rhinos back drilling the ball in to touch whenever possible.
It was another attacking kick however that saw the The Red Devils put the game to bed. Josh Jones on the end of it to touch down, 38-16.
Matt Parcell grabbed a late try for Leeds but this match was all about Salford Red Devils. The home crowd were delighted at the final hooter, Jackson Hastings received a rousing reception as the doom and gloom of the last few weeks seemed to lift away leaving light at the end of the 2018 tunnel.
Ian Watson was delighted with the spirit his side had showed. Not only had they scored 7 well worked tries but to defend so well with 12 men for an hour against the Super League champions was a satisfying nights work.
Salford now headed in to the Qualifiers with renewed confidence.
The teams that night were,
Salford.
Evalds, Bibby, Chamberlain, Sau, Olperts, Lui, Hastings, Mossop, Wood, Murray, Jones, McCarthy, Lannon.
Subs, Bennion, Flanagan, Tasi, Nakubuwai.
Leeds.
Golding, Tom Briscoe, Keinhorst, Handley, Luke Briscoe, Moon, Sutcliffe, Garbutt, Dwyer, Singleton, Ablett, Thompson, Smith.
Subs, Parcell, Peteru, Walters, Crosby.
Attendance, 2,387.
Referee, Tom Grant.
Saturday’s match.
It promises to be a crackling atmosphere at teatime on Saturday. It’s well documented in Rugby League about clubs attendance’s. I don’t know any other sports that are as obsessed as about crowd figures but that seems the way it is. I’d love to see bigger crowds at Salford and I don’t really know what the answer is. I think sometimes though it’s better to be positive and shout about the passionate and loyal followers that Salford have. I think if you take the Red Devils away following as a percentage of home supporters is probably one of the best in the league. Let’s not forget we’re talking about a club here that hasn’t won a major trophy for forty eight years. That’s a lifetime in sport. Supporters have been denied a Wembley trip since 1969 and to me that’s a big thing to grow a club. Cup finals capture the publics imagination, the build up, the excitement of the whole weekend is magical. As mentioned earlier in 2020 it was behind closed doors. Even after the Grand Final in 2019 it was difficult to build on the following season because the pandemic struck and the country was locked down.
This is not me making excuses for the club I love by the way. I try and stick up for them in every way I can. That’s the way I was brought up.
Looking ahead to Saturday and the Rhinos are arriving on the back of a good solid victory away to Huddersfield. Brodie Croft will return and the times I’ve seen him this season he works his socks for Leeds. Andy Ackers is also now at Headingley and he’s a talented hooker, especially round the ruck.
The big news recently was Ian Blease and his move across to West Yorkshire. Ian was at Salford for many years as a player throughout the 80s and 90s and helped give supporters of that time some very happy memories. His time in the back office at Salford saw the club make great strides in the right direction. For me it’s a nod of respect to Ian, Andy and Brodie but once the match kicks off it’s win at all costs for Salford RLFC.
Jayden Nikorima made his debut for Salford last weekend and showed some nice touches. I think his half back partnership with Marc Sneyd will continue to blossom over the coming weeks and on Saturday the stage is certainly set for those two.
The battle in the pack should be very exciting. Brad Singleton won’t take a backward step especially against his former club and Oliver Partington who was absolutely sensational against Castleford will no doubt put in another huge effort in attack and defence. The Rhinos have plenty of size in the middle with Mikolaj Oledzki and James Donaldson. Rhyse Martin is a very clever player as well as being an astute goal kicker. Ash Handley has a terrific try record and centre Harry Newman is another real talent.
The bookmakers can’t spilt these two so both sides are even money on the betting coupon this week so I think we can expect a hugely competitive match with just a cigarette paper between them at the final hooter!
The action gets under way at 5:30pm.
Safe travels and enjoy the match.
Paul Whiteside.
Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos and the Salford match day programme.