Wakefield v Salford.

As I write this week’s preview it’s been fairly quiet regarding news around the club. Last week was another crushing week especially with the money owed to HMRC. It’s been well documented our off field crisis so I am going to park it this week. Like most supporters I just want the best for our club. At the moment it feels like we are going over the same old ground every week. I have very strong feelings on the way things are going but like I said let’s focus on the game on the pitch.

Last Sunday saw another heavy defeat at Castleford however Salford scored three tries and created many chances. We are struggling in defence and with the spine of the team so unsettled it’s hard to get any consistency or cohesion in the play.

I thought there were so monumental performances though and huge effort. Youngster Toby Warren who is very inexperienced at Super League level played eighty minutes against a very tough and uncompromising Tigers pack. Toby took some bone shaking tackles but never took a backward step. His enthusiasm is infectious and that goes for all the ‘loan rangers’ currently playing for Salford. 

Harvey Makin who’s extended his loan from Wigan played big minutes too and he also ran with so much effort and energy. Jonny Vaughan continues to impress every week and it was great to see Nene Macdonald back who made lots of meters and was a constant threat running out wide.

As previously mentioned the spine of the team has changed on numerous occasions this Sunday. Last Sunday Paul Rowley played Ryan Brierley and Jayden Nikorima in the halves. That partnership didn’t really click. Nikorima came off injured in the second half which is a worry. Ethan Ryan also picked up a knock so both players could be a doubt for Sunday.

One thing that really lifted my spirits on Sunday was Salford’s travelling supporters. They never stopped singing and cheering the lads on all the way through the match. 

Super League away record.

Wakefield 19

Draws 1

Salford 4

1999 Wakefield 36 Salford 10

2000 Wakefield 36 Salford 10

2001 Wakefield 32 Salford 22

2001 Wakefield 23 Salford 20

2002 Wakefield 32 Salford 18

2004 Wakefield 21 Salford 20

2004 Wakefield 46 Salford 18

2005 Wakefield 36 Salford 24

2006 Wakefield 18 Salford 36

2007 Wakefield 34 Salford 26

2009 Wakefield 29 Salford 10

2010 Wakefield 36 Salford 6

2011 Wakefield 6 Salford 32

2012 Wakefield 26 Salford 22

2013 Wakefield 23 Salford 23

2014 Wakefield 42 Salford 6

2015 Wakefield 16 Salford 24

2016 Wakefield 32 Salford 18

2017 Wakefield 24 Salford 22

2018 Wakefield 14 Salford 12

2019 Wakefield 33 Salford 22

2020 Wakefield 20 Salford 28 (behind closed doors at Headingley).

2022 Wakefield 30 Salford 24

2023 Wakefield 32 Salford 6

They played for both.

There have been quite a lot of players who have played for both clubs in the Super League era. Here is a selection of them:

Shane Kenward, Warren Jowitt, Bobbie Goulding, kris Tassell, Martin Moana, Phil Hassan, Michael Korkidas, Darrell Griffin, Josh Griffin, George Griffin, Andy Kirk, Tommy Saxton, Paul White, Sean Gleeson, Ashley Gibson, Ben Gledhill, Jeremy Smith, Stuart Howarth, Greg Johnson, Josh Veivers, Tim Smith, Matty Ashurst, kevin Locke, Jason Walton, Mason Caton Brown, Liam Hood, Ben Jones Bishop, James Hasson, Lee Gaskell and Josh Wood.

A match to remember Sunday 27th February 2011.

Wakefield Trinity 6 Salford 32

After a poor start to the 2011 season Salford got there first win in this match at Belle Vue. On a very heavy pitch Shaun McRae’s side turned in a very accomplished display to punish there hosts. A big defeat against Celtic Crusaders on the opening day of the season was followed by a 50 point hiding at home to St Helens.

This match was never in doubt after a storming start. Matty Smith linked up with Stefan Ratchford after just 43 seconds to create the first try, Ratchford going over.

Four minutes later Daniel Holdsworth produced a huge 40-20 kick to lay the platform for Stephen Wild to score the second try.

Holdsworth put in a tidy kick for centre Mark Henry to dive onto ahead of winger Kevin Penny for try number three, also goaled by the scrum-half.

Tommy Lee grabbed Wakefield’s only score midway through the first half.

Despite having Ryan Boyle sin binned in the second half Salford’s defence stood firm.

Adam Sidlow and Mark Henry rounded off a fine victory with late tries for the City Reds.

The teams that day were;

Wakefield: Veivers, Penny, Murphy, Dean, George, Smith, Lee, Korkidas, Rinaldi, P Johnson, Mariano, Morrison, Howarth.

Replacements: Gledhill, Davey, Amor, Henderson.

Salford: Patten, Broughton, Henry, Nero, Gibson, Ratchford, Holdsworth, Cashmere, Smith, Boyle, Adamson, Sidlow, Wild.

Replacements: Parker, Paleaaesina, Sneyd, Jewitt.

Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens).

Attendance: 6,823.

Sunday’s match.

Wakefield Trinity were relegated at the end of the 2023 season and spent last season rebuilding in the Championship. The club built plenty of momentum storming to the Title in Rugby League’s second tier and to top things off they also took a huge following to Wembley Stadium in the 1895 cup final. They enjoyed success lifting that trophy with victory over Sheffield Eagles. 

It’s fair to say the feel good factor is back at Belle vue. The Local community have got behind the club and attendance’s are very much on the up. 

Before last season Trinity’s last big day out to Wembley had come in 1979 when they lost to Widnes in the Challenge Cup final. Like Salford they’ve had decades without winning a major trophy. Supporters have had to be very patient and of course we all know how that feels. 

In 2025 Daryl Powell’s side have been very impressive and have already picked up some big scalps. A very clinical performance over Warrington last Sunday saw Trinity thump the Wolves 40-10 in a ruthless display. Powell has moulded a very good side with plenty of size and mobility in the pack. Winger Tom Johnstone is top try scorer this year so far. He spent eight seasons at Belle vue where he enjoyed a terrific try scoring ratio. After spending 2023 and 2024 in the South of France playing for Catalans he notched not far off a try a game over there. 

Max Jowitt is one to watch. A very quick player at full back but has linked up well in recent weeks with Mason Lino in the halves. Jowitt is also an assured goal kicker. Jay Pitts is very experienced in the pack and former Salford players Josh Griffin and Liam Hood both played last Sunday. Another former Salford youngster who’s making a name for himself with Trinity is Josh Rourke. Josh spent 2023 at Whitehaven and last season he impressed at London Broncos. He played fullback against Warrington last Sunday. 

All eyes will be on the squad that Paul Rowley selects later this week. There is still a number of players sidelined particularly in the pack. Shane Wright, Joe Mellor, Loghan Lewis, Chris Hill and Sam Stone would be a huge hole out of any team. 

I was speaking to a St.Helens supporter last week on my travels at work. He told me how impressive we looked in the friendly fixture we had at Saints prior to the season kicking off. He stated how sharp, big and physical the Red Devils looked and how much of a handful that side would have been. It’s sad to think we never got to see the potential that group of player’s had. In recent weeks it’s been more of a damage limitation exercise and I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way at all. 

We all keep looking for a glimmer of light at the end of this long dark tunnel. One things for sure Wakefield aren’t going to do us any favours. We are in for another very tough eighty minutes on Sunday afternoon. 

Safe travels and enjoy the game.

The action gets under way at 3pm.

Paul Whiteside. 

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos and the Salford match day programme.