Salford v Leigh.
The late 1980s seems like a really long time ago now in 2025. Back then I was a young lad starting my journey as a Salford RLFC supporter. My dad would tell me stories about the glory of the 70s and ream players off who sounded like god’s to him. He could name teams, score’s, dates and so much nostalgia. He made it sound magical and from the very start I wanted to be a part of it all. Making scrapbooks, banners and posters. Drawing pictures at school of my favourite players. Collecting programmes and studying my dads old Rothman’s year books were like my education to the noble game of Rugby League.
On Saturday nights dad would go to village video shop near my house and he’d loan out the Challenge Cup final videos. They came in a shining green case with a photo of the glorious Wembley stadium on the cover. We’d sit together and watch the finals from the 70s and the 80s. I’d ask my dad why Salford weren’t in any of them. He told me that sport is like a big wheel that turns very slowly. One day we will get there and have our time he’d say. I hung onto his every word.
When a sporting club gets a hold of you emotionally it’s very hard to let go. It becomes a huge part of your daily life. As I write this preview once again the future of our club seems very uncertain.
It would be nice if we could just watch our team every week without all this nonsense. Being a Salford supporter is one of the most unstable things in the world at the moment.
Years ago you’d go to the match on Sunday then that was it until the next game. You didn’t worry about any off the field stuff. It’s sad really because nobody really talks about the on field stuff anymore it’s all the politics, off field stuff and attendances. I’d love to turn the clock back.
In a way I think the whole mentality of the sport has changed. We don’t seem to celebrate the the positives anymore but just go round in circles moaning about the negatives.
I’ve read lots of reports about the NRL taking control of the Super League. Various pundits both here and in Australia have had their say on the matter. Teams like Salford don’t seem to feature much in these grand plans for teams in the big cities. It does make me smile though because quite a few of the big clubs in Super League come from relatively small towns that people from outside the Northwest don’t know much about.
As I mentioned earlier about the stability of being a Salford supporter, I don’t think it’s just our club. A lot of teams now face an uncertain future. The sport needs to make sure it doesn’t push traditionalists away. We don’t want the door to close and the sun to set on the clubs that have been the backbone of our wonderful sport.
Leigh is very much a Rugby League town and continues to produce so much talent that filters into the sport from all angles. It’s a hot bed of the game with decades of history and tradition. Salford and Leigh have played out a healthy rivalry over the years which really came to head in 2003. The sides were racing for promotion in National League one and met each other seven times in all competitions producing some very memorable matches. Karl Harrison’s Salford side came out on top winning six games and the other ended in a 20-20. Salford beat Leigh in the promotion final at Widnes to return to Super League.
The Centurion’s as they were back then gained promotion the following season but their experience in the top flight was short lived. Just two wins and a draw from twenty eight matches saw them relegated at the end of the 2005 season. After that it took a long time for Leigh to return but after leaving Hilton Park to go to their new home at the Leigh Sports village the club started to build an infrastructure steadily.
Salford were humbled on a number of occasions by Leigh in the Challenge Cup.
After rebranding to the Leopards with some high profile players joining, the club took the Super League by storm in 2023 finishing 5th in the table and winning the Challenge Cup at Wembley for the first time since 1971. That success was backed up again last season with another playoff appearance finishing 5th for the second season running. Leigh have enjoyed their best attendance’s since the early 1980s and the whole town has really got behind the clubs renaissance.
Super League home record.
Salford 5
Draws 0
Leigh 2
2005 Salford 32 Leigh 6
2005 Salford 42 Leigh 6
2017 Salford 12 Leigh 6
2021 Salford 34 Leigh 8
2023 Salford 22 Leigh 24
2024 Salford 32 Leigh 22
2024 Salford 6 Leigh 14 (Play off fixture)
They played for both.
Luke Adamson, Ed Chamberlain, Kevin Ashcroft, Simon Baldwin, Radney Bowker, David Bradbury, John Duffy, Jacob Emmitt, Matt Gardner, Matty Gee, Bobbie Goulding, Danny Halliwell, Harrison Hansen, Gareth Hock, Liam Hood, Peter Smethurst, Stuart Littler, Peter Alstead, Nathan McAvoy, Dean McGilvary, Reni Maitua, Chris Morley, Stephen Nash, Rob Parker, Corey Paterson, John Pendlebury, Michael Platt, Gareth Price, Adam Sidlow, Craig Stapleton, Simon Svabic, John Taylor, Iain Thornley, Mike Wainwright, Gareth O’Brien, Junior Sau, Ian Watson and Mal Yates.
A match to remember Friday 22nd April 2005.
Salford 42 Leigh 6.
Salford and Leigh had sparked up a real bitter rivalry in 2003. Playing in National League one both sides were chasing promotion to Super League. During that season the two sides met on seven occasions with Karl Harrison’s Salford winning six matches and the very first meeting of the season ended in a 20-20 draw at Hilton Park. Salford went on to beat Leigh in the Promotion final . The following season Leigh were pushed all the way by Whitehaven finishing above them in the League table by a slender points difference. Leigh gained promotion after beating the Cumbrians in the Promotion Final 32-16
The two sides met in Super League at the Willows twice in 2005. Salford won the first fixture 32-6 and then they met again in April.
Salford had consolidated in 2004 after promotion back to the top flight. A solid season pleased the supporters and the following year the team were once again continuing to make progress. After ten matches Salford had five victories and five defeats. The highlight a 42-6 demolition of Warrington at the Willows on good Friday. A day which Warrington boss Paul Cullen aptly named Black Friday!
Leigh had struggled to adapt to Super League and had managed just one victory over London Broncos but had drawn the previous week at home to Hull.
The Centurions dominated the first half even though they turned round 12-6 down but in the second half Salford put them to the sword.
Salford totally controlled the second half, scoring six tries, centre Stuart Littler went on to complete a hat-trick against his home town club.
Leigh took the lead in the 11th minute when Craig Stapleton’s strong run set up the platform. Phil Jones’ long pass put Ben Cooper in for a try.
Salford were soon back in the match. Cliff Beverley’s one-handed pass out of the tackle got Ian Sibbitt over for the try goaled by Chris Charles.
The first of Littler’s hat trick followed before Both sides traded penalties.
Leigh’s resistance began to fade early in the second half. Salford scored twice to take a 24-6 lead.
When Leigh failed to find touch with a penalty and Ian Knott gave away a penalty at the next play, Salford capitalised with a converted try from lively scrum half Luke Robinson.
Robinson growing in confidence sent Littler in for his second try with a lovely inside pass.
As Leigh ran out of steam Salford finished them off.
A classic end to end attack by Junior Langi, was finished under the posts by Robinson.
In the final stages Leigh crumbled under Salford’s relentless pressure. Andy Coley crashed over before Littler completed his hat-trick. Gareth Haggerty scored Salford’s final try to give them a very well deserved victory.
The teams that day:
Salford, Hodgson, Langi, Littler, McGuinness, Stewart, Beverley, Robinson, Stringer, Alker, Rutgerson, Coley, Sibbit, Charles.
Subs, Jonkers, Shipway, Baldwin, Haggerty.
Leigh: Owen, Smyth, Jackson, Cooper, Maden, Jones, Wilshere, Fleary, Rowley, Sturm, Stapleton, Leafa, Knott. Subs, Stevens, Taylor, Marshall, McCurrie.
Referee, Ronnie Laughton.
Attendance, 5,021.
Saturday’s match.
The Leopards had an excellent win over Warrington at Easter in what was a real hard working performance. They currently sit third in the table with five wins and a draw from their opening eight matches.
With an abundance of key players to choose from Leigh coach Adrian Lam has built a very a capable and athletic team that are difficult to beat.
Edwin Ipape is one of the best hookers in the country. A strong defender who is ruthless with the ball in hand. Gareth O’Brien and Lachlan Lam have been Leigh’s regular half back pairing in 2025, Ben McNamara has featured on occasions too particularly in the Challenge Cup. The Leopards have plenty of pace in the back line and this is where they do the damage to opposing teams. Josh Charnley only needs half a yard and he will take advantage. A phenomenal finisher with one of the best try records in the English game. Umyla Hanley is another player with an eye from the try line and fullback David Armstrong has made a good impression since joining the Leopards from Newcastle Knights in the autumn.
Leigh lost quite a bit of experience at the end of 2024 with pivotal players moving on but their recruitment has been spot on so far.
Looking at Salford’s squad I think we should pay tribute to the loan rangers! The lads who’ve joined on loan have really stepped up for the club with real maturity. Jonny Vaughan has been fantastic playing in the centre and George Hill gets through tons of work in the middle. Harvey Makin and Jake Thewlis made impressive debuts at Catalans last weekend and Tiaki Chan once again put in a tremendous effort topping off an excellent performance with a well deserved try.
With a number of players moving on its left the squad quite light but add to that the players who are injured its a massive list. Loghan Lewis and Sam Stone are yet to feature in 2025 and Ethan Ryan’s return was short lived with the winger out again.
Chris Hill has been missing recently and I think he’s one of many players who’s played this season when perhaps they weren’t really fit. Certain players have put their hands up with a fantastic attitude to carry the team forward. It’s been a desperate situation at times and at the moment it seems like it could carry on for the foreseeable future.
I am expecting a terrific atmosphere on Saturday evening. Leigh will definitely start as favourites in what should be another interesting match.
The action gets under way at 5:30pm.
Paul Whiteside.
Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos and the Salford match day programme.