Castleford v Salford.
If you thought it would be a nice quiet week as a Salford supporter with no game due the the Challenge cup well think again.
News broke early last week of CEO Chris Irwin leaving the club. The Club statement said Chris resigned but a number of reports suggested he’s been removed from his position.
It’s becoming very desperate now and the new owners don’t seem to being paying any money towards the day to day running of the club. This doesn’t make any sense to me. How can you own the club but not pay the players or the staff that work for you. It’s a bit like buying a house and then expecting the previous owner to pay the mortgage!
This is making the future very difficult to comprehend for people who follow this club with a great passion. The lack of communication under this new regime has been absolutely diabolical.
Paul king has returned and this has to be positive news. Paul has always done his best to run the club under difficult circumstances. He’s never had it easy that’s for sure.
I’ve read a lot of articles in the media and listened to pundits and radio broadcasters. The finger of blame has been pointed all over the place but the book stops with the owners. They are the elephant in the room and since they arrived they’ve had a pretty easy ride.
In my personal opinion I think it’s time the owners faced the music. They’ve hidden away and dictated from afar for to long now. Forget the stadium and the land, Salford RLFC, its history and heritage needs protecting.
As a supporter it’s been very difficult to watch the club we love go through this awful spell. It’s like watching somebody drowning. You feel helpless at times. We don’t really have a clue what the future holds but I’d urge everybody who loves our great club to get to the matches and get behind the team. Your voice can make a difference. I still believe that if we are all in unity we can get through this. Life without Salford RLFC in it seems very bleak and I certainly don’t want to think about that.
On a more positive note it’s looking like the playing squad could be boosted in the coming weeks. Chris Hill is set to return from injury and Nene Macdonald is back training. Ryan Brierley and Chris Hankinson both missed the Magic Weekend defeat. Their absence was a bitter blow. In recent weeks the team has lacked experience. We’ve had a lot of young players working their socks off and putting huge shifts in but you need those senior players to make things tick.
Super League away record.
Castleford 19
Draws 0
Salford 8
1997 Castleford 12 Salford 10
1998 Castleford 30 Salford 12
1999 Castleford 38 Salford 10
2000 Castleford 30 Salford 4
2001 Castleford 22 Salford 24
2002 Castleford 24 Salford 2
2004 Castleford 32 Salford 36
2004 Castleford 22 Salford 24
2006 Castleford 28 Salford 26
2009 Castleford 52 Salford 16
2010 Castleford 30 Salford 12
2011 Castleford 52 Salford 20
2012 Castleford 34 Salford 30
2013 Castleford 44 Salford 30
2014 Castleford 14 Salford 10
2015 Castleford 30 Salford 16
2016 Castleford 16 Salford 32
2017 Castleford 38 Salford 14
2018 Castleford 22 Salford 8
2019 Castleford 24 Salford 20
2020 Castleford 37 Salford 30 ( behind closed doors Headingley)
2021 Castleford 18 Salford 70
2022 Castleford 16 Salford 26
2022 Castleford 10 Salford 50
2023 Castleford 10 Salford 42
2024 Castleford 36 Salford 24
2025 Castleford 22 Salford 14
They played for both.
Throughout the Super League era there have been plenty of players who have played for both clubs and quite a few through the 1970s and 80s.
Here is a selection of them.
Paul Fletcher, Paul Orr, Bill Kirkbride, Jonny Ward, Barry Kear, Ron Hill, Ian Bragger, Justin Carney, Chris Charles, Jason Critchley, Luke Dorn, Greg Eden, Jake Emmit, Jason Flowers, Matt Gardner, Ashley Gibson, Wayne Godwin, Weller Hauraki, Lee Jewitt, Michael Korkidas, Francis Maloney, Mike Platt, Darren Rogers, Darren Shaw, Mark Sneyd, Gray Viane, Niall Evalds, George Griffin, Jordan Turner and Gareth O’Brien.
A magic match to remember Friday 9th June 2023.
Castleford 10 Salford 42.
Jungle Boogie For Delightful Devils.
Salford took were back on the road with a trip to West Yorkshire to face Castleford Tigers. Both sides were victorious at the Magic Weekend with Castleford now desperately trying to climb away from the foot of the League table. Salford arrived just two points of the top spot, confidence flowing but with a humble attitude that has served Paul Rowley’s side so well over the last two seasons.
Over the last fifty years Wheldon Road has been a bit of a grave yard for Salford sides, particularly in significant cup matches, supporters of a certain age will relate to that I am sure.
The Tigers had experienced campaigner Gareth Widdop at fullback. Jack Broadbent and Jacob Miller were the half backs with Paul McShane at hooker.
Salford coach Paul Rowley made just one changed with Rhys Williams replacing Joe Burgess on the wing. The rest of the side and the substitute bench were exactly the same as last Saturday.
After a glorious sunny day in West Yorkshire it was still nice and warm as the two sides came out for kick off.
Castleford started brightly and had the better of the opening stages of the match. Salford scored the games first points with a try from Williams after a Marc Sneyd kick forced a mistake from the hosts.
It was another mistake that led to the next try. This time Salford came up with an error. Tim Lafai lost possession and Tigers winger Jason Qareqare took advantage.
Widdop coughed up another attacking Red Devils kick and the visitors made it count. Oliver Partington got a pass back inside and Chris Atkin finished well.
Castleford were feeling the pace, dropping off tackles and allowing Salford to keep the ball alive.
Brodie Croft delayed his pass to perfection to send Deon Cross into space. The centre turned the Tigers inside out with a mesmerising run to score a fine try. Sneyd booted the conversion to put Salford in control 4-18.
The Tigers didn’t know where to turn. The attacks were coming from both sides of the pitch. Ryan Brierley linked well at the back chiming in the line on most plays. It was the brilliance of Brierley that set Salford’s fourth try up. A pass straight to the bread basket of Ken Sio who finished with ease.
Brierley then showed what a terrific defender he is by racing back to pull off a very significant try saving tackle.
Despite the one way traffic of the first half Castleford scored a rather fortunate try as the half time hooter sounded. A scruffy kick landed in the arms of Kenny Edwards who touched down. 10-24 at the break.
When Jack Ormondroyd spilled the kick off at the start of the second half Castleford had a chance to post more points. Salford defended desperately and the hosts lack of a cutting edge once again let them down.
It was a slice of sheer quality that sealed the match for Salford. Lafai and Williams linked again to produce a try right off the top shelf.
The Tigers now had to force the pass and after losing McShane and Mahe Fonua to injury they were low on numbers.
Sio pouched an interception try before Williams and Lafai continued there double act for Salford’s seventh try of the evening.
Sneyd bossed the game for Salford and once again the Red Devil’s spine was ruthless in both attack and defence.
Croft and Sneyd combined for the final try which hard working Australian back rower Sam Stone scored.
Paul Rowley’s team are a joy to watch playing Rugby League that the vintage Kangaroos of the 1980s would be proud of.
The teams that night;
Castleford, Widdop,Qareqare,Fonua, Turner, Tate, Broadbent, Miller, Martin, McShane, Griffin, Edwards, Sutcliffe, Westerman.
Subs, Massey, Mustapha, Robb, Willis.
Salford, Brierley, Sio, Cross, Lafai, Williams, Croft, Sneyd, Dupree, Atkin, Vuniyayawa, Watkins, Stone, Partington.
Subs, Bourouh, Ormondroyd, Sidlow, Hellewell.
Referee, Jack Smith.
Attendance, 6,354.
Sunday’s match.
It seems a strange way to run the fixture list. We’ve played a number of teams twice now but are yet to play Hull FC or Warrington at all. Looking back a lot has changed since our visit to Wheldon Road in March. Players have moved on and confidence is now fairly delicate.
The Tigers have struggled so far this season. They’ve looked vulnerable in defence and when the two sides last met Salford matched them all the way. With key players returning this is a match the Red Devils can get something from. Could this be the game we start rebuilding from?
Castleford have picked up two players from Salford in recent weeks with Brad Singleton and Chris Atkin moving to the West Yorkshire side. Danny McGuire is now the head coach and it was a surprise to see Chris Chester join the club as Director of rugby, a role he’s held at Leigh since 2021.
The Tigers were beaten comfortably at Magic Weekend by local rivals Wakefield and their only two victories this season have come against the two sides below them in the table Huddersfield and Salford.
Tigers fullback Tex Hoy is a player to keep an eye on. The Australian spent the 2023 season with Hull after signing from Newcastle Knights. Hoy has plenty of pace and can be an elusive runner who links up well in the attacking line. His dad Matt is a former professional surfer.
The much travelled Rowan Milnes has played in the halves this season at Wheldon road. He’s a tall lad for a half back and can also kick goals.
Former St.Helens winger Josh Simm is a dangerous winger and veteran Joe Westerman continues to clock up appearances at the age of 35, now in his second spell with the Tigers he’s given fantastic service to a number of Super League clubs.
Salford will once again be reliant on their ‘loan rangers’. Ethan Ryan returned last time out and was probably Salford’s best player against Hull Kingston Rovers at Magic Weekend.
Paul Rowley will be hoping to get Ryan Brierley and Chris Hankinson back in the squad. Both players have been unlucky with injuries so far in 2025. Hankinson is a very strong player in both attack and defence. Brierley really helps Salford with his attacking prowess, he’s a very experienced player who not only can create chances but also finish them.
It would be great to see a huge Salford away following on Sunday at Wheldon Road. Traditionally we are always on the open terrace at the old railway end of the ground. It’s a place that has been a real graveyard for Salford teams over the years but certainly in recent times we’ve enjoyed some very good wins there. The players need us more than ever at the moment and I think as supporters we need each other. It’s great at away games to see all the familiar faces, we all want the same thing for our club.
As I’ve said numerous times this season the supporters of our great club are experiencing a very difficult and worrying time, especially regarding what the future holds. Before I go this week I’ll leave you with a few thoughts on the way I see things. I hope it gives you something to cling on to.
It’s not about money men, star players leaving, referees, share holders, band wagons, shiny stadiums, fancy kits, attendances and parochial attitudes!
It’s about the badge! The badge you fell in love with! The Club and its history! All those highs and lows! That dream you’ve held dear for so long! Don’t let anybody take that away from you! You are the club, the foundation that makes it stand tall. No matter how difficult it gets never give up on it, never walk away.
Safe travels and enjoy the game.
The action gets under way at 5:15pm.
Paul Whiteside.
Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos and the Salford match day programme.