Salford v Wigan.

I don’t really know where to start this week. It’s very difficult to watch the matches at the moment. The players have no confidence and look beaten in the early stages of every match. We are not competing and at times it looks really uncomfortable. Some of the defending at Wakefield was very poor and the players I’ve no doubt will take responsibility for that. I would have expected a lower league team to be much more resilient than that. People mention mitigation and I certainly get that. 

I spoke to Jack Ormondroyd outside the ground after the match. He was very disappointed with the performance saying it wasn’t good enough. He was very honest and didn’t make any excuses and I can accept that. Listening to Jack though he looked shattered both physically and mentally. He didn’t know anything regarding the route the new owners are taking. This environment can’t be good for the playing squad. The club is drowning very fast and nobody seems to be doing anything about it. For all I know the owners could be doing positive things behind the scenes but if you don’t keep people informed then the vacuum just getting filled.

In recent preview’s I’ve tried to stay out of the politics surrounding the club but as the crisis reaches this really critical stage something needs to happen. A plan needs to be put in place to lift spirts and give us all a direction to work towards. It’s not like the season is about to end. We’ve got fifteen games to go. The soul is being ripped out of our club and over the next few months the damage caused could catastrophic.

On Monday this week I read online about a protest before the match on Friday. Once again this has divided the supporters with people arguing the case both for and against a protest. Personally speaking I am not sure this will actually achieve what we want it to. Perhaps the players should go on strike by standing outside the stadium with the supporters in a show of solidarity. We are all in this together so hopefully the owners will finally realise this and start working towards a solution. Trust and integrity needs restoring and bridges need building. 

I read a few comments from people saying without the owners we are heading for oblivion. Well it looks like we are heading that way with them too. Decisions need to be made as soon as possible. Salford supporters don’t want to lose this great club with all its history and tradition. This is a club to be proud of. Right now it needs caring for more than ever.

Super League home record.

Salford 5

Draws 0

Wigan 24

1997 Salford 14 Wigan 4

1998 Salford 2 Wigan 34

1999 Salford 6 Wigan 46

2000 Salford 18 Wigan 30

2001 Salford 31 Wigan 30

2002 Salford 24 Wigan 46

2004 Salford 16 Wigan 32

2005 Salford 20 Wigan 34

2006 Salford 28 Wigan 10

2007 Salford 6 Wigan 25

2007 Salford 24 Wigan 50

2009 Salford 12 Wigan 38

2010 Salford 4 Wigan 18

2011 Salford 16 Wigan 32

2012 Salford 20 Wigan 40

2013 Salford 0 Wigan 42

2014 Salford 4 Wigan 25

2015 Salford 24 Wigan 18

2016 Salford 20 Wigan 23

2017 Salford 16 Wigan 26

2018 Salford 12 Wigan 40

2019 Salford 22 Wigan 30

2019 Salford 26 Wigan 30

2020 Salford 18 Wigan 14

2021 Salford 16 Wigan 17

2022 Salford 12 Wigan 30

2023 Salford 6 Wigan 26

2024 Salford 12 Wigan 22

2024 Salford 6 Wigan 26

They played for both.

Over the years there have been plenty of players who’ve been at both clubs at some point in their career. Here are a few of them,

Mal Aspey, Neil Baynes, Steve Blakeley, Gavin Clinch, Andy Coley, Michael Dobson, Mark Flanagan, Martin Gleeson, Sean Gleeson, Wayne Godwin, Bobbie Goulding, Andy Gregory, Steve Hampson, Ged Byrne, Paul O Neil, Harrison Hansen, Gareth Hock, Nathan Mcavoy, Lee Mossop, Jack Murphy, David Myers, Martin Offiah, Sam Panapa, John Pendlebury, Luke Robinson, Tim Smith, David Stephenson, Trevor Stockey, Ged Stazicker, Scott Taylor, Logan Tomkins, Colin Whitfield, Jackson Hastings, Jake Bibby, Tyler Dupree, Stephen Wild and Phil Ford.

A match to remember Friday 13th March 2020.

Salford 18 Wigan 14.

All the talk leading up to the match was about how well Wigan were playing and rightly so. The Warriors opened the scoring with a penalty goal from Chris Hankinson after five minutes.

The Red Devils struggled to get over the half way line in the early stages and had plenty of defensive work to do.

Tui Lolohea levelled the scores with a penalty goal but when Ken Sio knocked on from the kick off Salford we’re back under the cosh. Wigan profited from the set scrum as Jackson Hastings dropped his shoulder to score a fine try against his former club.

A clever kick through from Kevin Brown and a nice break from Niall Evalds showed attacking promise but Salford seemed to be unable to build significant pressure. In the closing stages of the half Sam Powell scored a real sucker punch try as a Salford attack collapsed at one end leaving the Wigan hooker to pinch a simple try at the other end. Hankinson missed a penalty goal on the half time hooter to leave the visitors 2-14 up at the break and looking fairly comfortable.

Sebastine Ikahihifo knocked on ten yards from his own line in the first set of the second half. Salford battened down the hatches to defend their line frantically.

It needed something special to put some life back into the game. Niall Evalds was the man to provide it. The hot stepping fullback showed some individual brilliance to fool the Wigan defence. Lolohea’s conversion reduced the deficit to 8-14 with just over twenty minutes left.

The Warriors began to panic, they seemed shell shocked at Salford’s spirt. Ian Watson’s men had renewed confidence, they were fighting for each other in what was a monumental effort.

Looking to kill off Salford’s resistance the Warriors went on the attack. A dangerous kick through was picked up clean by Evalds close to his own line. He shot through the gap and went the full length of the field much to the delight of the home supporters. Lolohea levelled the scores at 14-14 with just over ten minutes remaining.

Another thrilling Salford break was cut short by referee James Child who adjudged a pass to be forward. By now it was end to end action and one tremendous contest. Live wire Rhys Williams made another swashbuckling break with his long hair flying in the breeze. From close range their was no stopping Kevin Brown who crashed over to raise the roof on the AJ Bell Stadium. Lolohea missed the goal but Salford hit the front for the first time in the match 18-14. A remarkable turn around!

Wigan came out swinging though in the final minutes and forced a drop out.

Former Warriors centre Dan Sarginson who had been sensational all night came up with the tackle of the match. An absolute bell ringer to force a knock on. A huge roar erupted around the ground. Salford battled out the final minute to take a famous victory and a thoroughly deserved one.

Ian Watson remained grounded after the match but the glint was back in his eye. “It’s got to prove a point this, you play the way you train and your a good team. We’ve got to believe and the proof will no be in the pudding going forward. It’s great getting up for a game against Wigan but we’ve got to back this up.” Watson praised the efforts of Niall Evalds and Dan Sarginson who both put in fantastic performances. After a disappointing few weeks the Salford supporters went home delighted on a famous night for the whole club.

The teams that night,

Salford, Evalds, Sio, Welham, Sarginson, Williams, Lolahea, Brown, Mossop, Lussick, Lannon, Roberts, McCarthy, Yates.

Subs, Pauli, Ikahihifo, Flanagan.

Wigan, French, Manfredi, Hankinson, Bibby, Marshall, Leuluia, Hastings, Burgess, Powell, Byrne, Isa, Farrell, Smithies.

Subs, Bullock, Harvard, Clark, Smith.

Attendance, 4,796.

Referee, James Child. 

Friday’s match.

Walking out of Belle Vue last Sunday was probably the lowest I’ve felt watching Salford for well over twenty years. It was like going back to the early 2000s when hammering’s like that especially away from home occurred pretty regularly. 

You’re still thinking about it the day after, it hurts but in your heart you are looking forward to the next game to try and get some pride back. Support for a sporting club is so much more than just going to the match once a week. For many of us it’s a huge part of our lives. 

The club and the players are like a family member. You want to be there for them in the good times and the bad. You care for them like you would a brother. You defend them and stick up for them. Sometimes you feel helpless watching them suffer and the pain hurts like hell. That’s what makes the good days so cherished and special. 

Think about all the friends you’ve made watching your club and all the memories that you’ve made, good and bad. 

I don’t think I need to talk too much about this week’s opponents. Wigan are the current champions and going off the form of both clubs it could be another heavy defeat coming our way. 

Matty Peet has a star studded team with quality in every position. A huge pack that can cause the damage with lighting pace in the three quarters to finish chances off. 

It’s probably not about the result this Friday. For Salford it’s about the performance and getting back so pride and togetherness. I will leave you with a little paragraph I wrote a few years ago because it seems quite poignant yet again.

Salford RLFC has meant to much to me and come to represent to many things. I’ve been to far to many games spent to much money worried about Salford when I should of been worrying about other things! I’ve asked to much of the people I love sometimes. I accept all that, perhaps it’s something you can’t understand unless you belong. 

What about this, it’s extra time in a million pound game. You look around and see all those familiar faces full of fear, desperation and hope everyone lost. Then Gareth O Brien drops a goal from the half way line and everyone goes spare with jubilation. Just for a few minutes you’re at the centre of the whole world. 

The feeling of belonging to our great club is so special, and the good thing is it comes around again and again. There’s always another season. Lose the cup semi in July well there’s the new competition next April. It’s actually pretty comforting if you think about it! 

Every now and again you catch a glimpse of a world that doesn’t work like that. A world that doesn’t start in February and finish in October! 

There’s some stuff that never comes back and some stuff that won’t go away! 

Some stuff you couldn’t ignore even if you wanted to! 

I know there’s a lot going on a the moment but let’s stick together and guide our great club in to the future. 

Safe travels and enjoy the game.

The action gets under way at 8pm.

Paul Whiteside. 

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