Salford v Huddersfield.

Sunday’s trip to Elland Road wasn’t one to remember. I felt pretty down in the dumps on Monday morning heading to work. Losing is one thing but when you get nilled as well it’s a very long eighty minutes with nothing to cheer.

Scoring points has been a problem at times for Salford this season. We’ve managed thirty points in a match on just three occasions, London at home 34, Leigh at home 32 and Castleford at home we managed 30 points. We’ve been kept scoreless on three occasions in 2024, losing 40-0 at Hull Kingston Rovers in the Challenge Cup, 20-0 away to Catalans and Sunday’s game against Leigh 26-0.

With just five games remaining every match is now a cup final and Salford are going to have to scrap it out to make the playoffs with Leigh just three points behind us. 

The two sin bins on Sunday were definitely a mitigating factor in the defeat. That said though Leigh were much better in every department and thoroughly deserved the win.

For me personally I thought both the yellow cards were harsh and penalties would of been a sufficient punishment. I understand why the yellow cards were shown though and this is the route the sport is heading down. Do I agree with it? No I don’t. For me a red card has always been the case for serious foul play and that is quite right. But now cards are being produced far to often for incidents that are not particularly malicious or intentional. Brad Singleton got caught off balance on Sunday by a nice step from Leigh stand off Gareth O’Brien. It was a little clumsy from Singleton but he’s a big lad. It’s a contact sport and these collisions will happen in a game that is played by athletes at speed.

I think the sport has become so scared now of legal action and insurance that it’s got to be seen to be addressing the situation. It must be so frustrating for the players and it’s a serious threat to the future of Rugby League as we know it. 

I finished work on Monday  teatime and found out the news that Tim Lafai and Oliver Partington have been handed one game bans which leaves us light of players for this Saturday’s crucial match with Huddersfield. Sam Stone picked up a knock in the first half on Sunday and didn’t return.

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Leigh looked like a team with momentum behind them on Sunday and I expect them to beat London Broncos this weekend. Salford have two home games left against the Giants and Catalans. Our three away trips are Hull Kingston Rovers, Hull FC and Wigan. All very tough matches.

I don’t think we need to panic yet. Despite that massive disappointment on Sunday we are still in sixth position but we have Leigh and Leeds chasing us. The next few weeks are going to be fascinating. The Robins, Wigan and Warrington look secure in the playoffs but the rest could easily change places in the run in! 

Super League home record 

Salford 15

Draws 0

Huddersfield 11

1998 Salford 40 Huddersfield 6

1999 Salford 14 Huddersfield 15

2000 Salford 18 Huddersfield/Sheffield 8

2001 Salford 28 Huddersfield 14

2004 Salford 18 Huddersfield 25

2005 Salford 24 Huddersfield 16

2006 Salford 36 Huddersfield 18

2007 Salford 14 Huddersfield 12

2009 Salford 10 Huddersfield 34

2010 Salford 30 Huddersfield 18

2011 Salford 24 Huddersfield 18

2012 Salford 20 Huddersfield 30

2013 Salford 21 Huddersfield 20

2014 Salford 22 Huddersfield 42

2015 Salford 0 Huddersfield 19

2016 Salford 30 Huddersfield 31

2016 Salford 34 Huddersfield 12 (Qualifiers)

2017 Salford 36 Huddersfield 20

2017 Salford 52 Huddersfield 14 (Super Eights)

2018 Salford 16 Huddersfield 24

2019 Salford 18 Huddersfield 36

2019 Salford 32 Huddersfield 12

2020 Salford 10 Huddersfield 12

2021 Salford 18 Huddersfield 12

2022 Salford 33 Huddersfield 16

2023 Salford 16 Huddersfield 26

They played for both.

Here are a selection of players who have played for both clubs;

Steve Kerry, Danny Arnold, Greg Austin, David Bradbury, Jodie Broughton, Ryan Clayton, Gavin Clinch, Greg Eden, Simon Finnigan, Matt Gardner, Lee Gaskell, Martin Gleeson, Bobbie Goulding, Darrel Griffin, Josh Griffin, Neil Harmon, David Hodgson, Graham Holroyd, Andy Johnson, Phil Joseph, Craig Kopzack, Michael korkidas, Tommy Lee, Martin Moana, Chris Nero, Robbie Paul, Luke Robinson, Jordan Turner, Adam Walne, Paul White, Stephen Wild, Tui Lolohea, Luke Yates, Theo Fages, Jake Bibby, Harvey Livett and Josh Jones.

A match to remember Sunday 13th August 2022.

Salford 33 Huddersfield 16.

Slick Salford Flatten Giants!

Salford Red Devils welcomed Channel Four to the AJ Bell Stadium for this early afternoon kick off. Once again it was glorious sunshine and scorching hot temperatures. These sort of conditions are becoming a regular occurrence at home fixtures this season.

Huddersfield Giants were the visitors and their supporters travelled in numbers. The Giants were in good form sitting third place in the Super League table and now started to come into matches with the expectations to win given the resources available to coach Ian Watson.

Salford came into the match with plenty of confidence having won their last three home games scoring 150 points along the way.

This looked another difficult assignment for Paul Rowley’s side playing against a team that have become very tough to beat and hard to score points against.

The Red Devils once again showed their intentions in the early stages by moving the ball wide and playing with the class and panache that’s caught opposing teams out many times already in 2022.

It took just three minutes for the games first try. A sweeping move to the right saw Deon Cross draw his man effortlessly to send Ken Sio over.

Former Salford star Tui Lolohea came up with a big error as he spilled the ball attempting an attacking kick. Joe Burgess scooped up possession and raced away to score.

With just twelve minutes on the clock Salford scored their third try. This time a speculative kick threw was finished superbly by Kallum Watkins. Marc Sneyd made it two from three with the conversions leaving the Giants stunned and trailing 16-0.

Once again the rugby league on show was an absolute joy to watch. Everything seemed to run like clock work for Salford with Sneyd, Brodie Croft and Ryan Brierley working away in the engine room at the heart of everything.

The Giants hit back out of nowhere and completely against the run of play. Chris McQueen stole the ball from Joe Burgess to trot over for a simple try.

The Red Devils hit back though and from a set scrum worked a lovely score. Brierley and Ken Sio linked up with a perfect passage of passing to send Salford fullback Brierley over for a try.

It was starting to look like another demolition job when the fifth try was scored. Sneyd found Tim Lafai with a pin point kick for the centre to touch down. The video referee was called upon and the match referee Liam Moore gave his on field decision as no try. The decision was overturned after the replays were checked and with Sneyd’s conversion Salford were in complete control 26-4.

Joe Burgess stopped a try for the Giants when he bundled Lewis Senior into touch but right on half time the game saw quite a crucial incident.

Croft was penalised for holding down as the hooter sounded and referee Moore sent the Salford stand off to the sin bin. Giants half back Oliver Russell kick the penalty to send his side in at the break trailing 26-6 but Salford would play the first ten minutes of the second half with twelve men.

The sin binning definitely stopped the Red Devils momentum and dominance as the Giants took their opportunity. Two quick tries from Sam Hewitt reduced the deficit to ten points at 26-16. Salford began to flap and lost composure, making mistakes and handing the initiative to the visitors. 

The Red Devils have shown they can punish teams when their in the ascendancy but in this match they weathered the storm and managed the last twenty minutes perfectly. Sneyd was the architect, managing the game with all the experience he’s picked up in his illustrious career. First he converted a penalty goal to extend the lead to 28-16 and then with five minutes remaining Sneyd dropped a goal as calm as you like. The Salford supporters were craving a second half try to finish the Giants off and it was that man Sneyd who made it. A measured kick for substitute Harvey Livett had the home fans on their feet in awe.

The teams that day,

Salford, Brierley, Sio, Cross, Lafai, Burgess, Croft, Sneyd, Dupree, Ackers, Wright, Taylor, Watkins, Gerrard.

Subs, Akauola, Atkin, Livett, Ormondroyd.

Huddersfield, Lolahea, I Senior, King, Cudjoe, L Senior, Russell, Fages, Hill, O’Brien, Trout, Hewitt, McQueen, Yates.

Subs, Levi, Greenwood, Ashworth, Wilson.

Attendance, 4,400.

Referee, Liam Moore.

Saturday’s match.

This is a pressure game for Salford and the dangerous thing is Huddersfield are a team that can’t make the playoffs but have started to play like the shackles have been taken off. Caretaker coach Luke Robinson has galvanised the players and the supporters putting some pride back into the West Yorkshire club. The Giants looked like damaged goods when Ian Watson left. They were disjointed and couldn’t find any sort of form as their season hit the buffers. 

Huddersfield beat Salford a few weeks ago in a very close match 16-8. A hard working victory over Castleford at the Magic Weekend will surely help Robinson’s chances of getting the job on a permanent basis. 

Robinson was a crafty scrum half in his playing days and spent three seasons with Salford between 2005 to 2007. Salford were relegated at the end of the 2007 season and he left to join the Giants were he went on to play over 200 matches before going into coaching. 

Chris Hankinson came off the bench last Sunday to replace Ryan Brierley at fullback. Hankinson played well for the remainder of the match pulling off some super tackles. He always looks a very steady player and is also very good on attack. If Brierley isn’t fit this week Hankinson can slot in at fullback but he may also be needed in the centre to fill in for Lafai. 

The Giants have plenty of experience and quality in their side. Jake Connor has looked a little more settled in recent week. Tui Lolahea can be very creative and has a clever kicking game. Chris Hill and Leroy Cudjoe are real stalwarts in the pack and have played over 800 matches between them which is pretty remarkable.

Esan Marsters has returned from injury and he will be looking to impress. Marsters has signed for Salford for next season and is a quality player in the three quarters. 

As previously mentioned Salford coach Paul Rowley will be forced to make changes due to injury and suspension. Chris Atkin could return and he is in line to make his 100th appearance for the club having made his debut at the start of the 2020 season. 

The bookmakers have made Salford the favourites with Huddersfield having a 6 point start on the coupon. I’ve got a feeling this could be another close game but I am really looking forward to it. The one thing you need after a disappointing defeat is the next game to come around quickly to put things right.

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.