Salford v St.Helens.

I really hope the team have benefited from the break they’ve had since the Wigan defeat. Looking back to that day a few weeks ago I was certainly proud of the effort from the players and the supporters who got behind the team they were magnificent. I arrived at the ground just in time for kick off after running a little late at work that day. I am not ashamed to admit it but I got a little bit upset on my way home from work that tea time. My mind was working overtime thinking about everything that is going on at the moment particularly the off field situation. I thought about my family and what the club means to us and it sort of overwhelmed me for a moment. Once I arrived at the match and chatted with people it really helped me to get my head together for the eighty minutes against the Champions. 

I think we are all worried about the future of Salford RLFC but rather than bottle all your worries and emotions up it’s comforting to talk to other supporters. 

As I write this weeks preview it’s been very quiet on the media front which was to be expected really with the huge Challenge Cup Final weekend that we’ve just witnessed. I thought the final was an absolute belter. Warrington gave everything and came so close to what would have been a big upset. Credit to Hull Kingston Rovers who hung in there to snatch victory. Marc Sneyd was a very deserving winner of the prestigious Lance Todd Trophy.The 1895 final was equally enjoyable. York Knights edged out Featherstone Rovers 5-4 and in the women’s final Wigan triumphed over St.Helens. 

With a return to Super League action this weekend our visitors St.Helens have been pretty inconsistent again in 2025. Paul Wellens’ team have shown glimpses of brilliance in some matches but are definitely not the finished article. Deon Cross made a move to his home town club from Salford just a few weeks ago and he’s featured at centre in their last four matches.

Salford have now lost eight league matches on the bounce leaving us bottom of the table behind fellow strugglers Huddersfield on points difference. With players starting to return from injury coach Paul Rowley is hoping to have some more experience available this Sunday.

As I mentioned earlier the support against Wigan was very special. The players really appreciate this and Paul Rowley has emphasised this to his players in the dressing room. This support will be once again crucial this Sunday. 

There is no doubt this is our toughest season for well over twenty years. It’s not easy watching the team struggle and with off field issues on top off that it makes our lives as supporters that little bit harder. 

I am a firm believer that things come in cycles in sport and it will get better over the course of time. 

Super League home record.

Salford 10

Draws 0

St.Helens 17

1997 Salford 39 St. Helens 26

1998 Salford 14 St. Helens 18

1999 Salford 10 St. Helens 23

2000 Salford 4 St. Helens 58

2001 Salford 16 St. Helens 56

2002 Salford 24 St. Helens 28

2004 Salford 30 St. Helens 20

2005 Salford 22 St. Helens 33

2006 Salford 10 St. Helens 12

2007 Salford 20 St. Helens 32

2009 Salford 20 St. Helens 10

2010 Salford 42 St. Helens 34

2011 Salford 22 St. Helens 56

2012 Salford 10 St. Helens 32

2013 Salford 10 St. Helens 52

2014 Salford 0 St. Helens 38

2015 Salford 6 St. Helens 52

2016 Salford 44 St. Helens 10

2017 Salford 22 St. Helens 14

2017 Salford 4 St. Helens 30 (Super 8s)

2018 Salford 10 St. Helens 60

2019 Salford 4 St. Helens 26

2020 Salford 12 St.Helens 10 (behind closed doors at Headingley).

2021 Salford 26 St.Helens 14

2022 Salford 44 St.Helens 12

2023 Salford 15 St.Helens 18

2024 Salford 20 St.Helens 18

They played for both.

Over the years there has been so much player movement between the two clubs. The town of St Helens is a real hot bed of the game with some fantastic amateur set ups including Thatto Heath, Blackbrook and Clock Face. In the Super League era Matty Smith, Jordan Turner, Lama Tasi, Matty Costello, Tommy Lee, Theo Fages, Mark Edmondson, Mark Flanagan, Willie Talu, Tony Puletua, Francis Meli, Matty Ashurst, Paul Forber, Lee Gaskell, Bobbie Goulding, Andrew Dixon, Danny Arnold, Karle Hammond, Joey Hayes, Alan Hunte, Tim Jonkers, Joey Lussick, Mark Lee, Dean McGillvary, Andy Platt, Gareth Price, Steve Tyrer, Adam Walker, Chris Morley, Josh Jones and Anthony Stewart to name a few.

A match to remember  Sunday 31st July 2022.

Salford 44 St.Helens 12.

Salford’s Golden Sunday.

It was another lovely sunny Sunday afternoon at the AJ Bell Stadium. Salford came into the game low on numbers with Coach Paul Rowley only naming an eighteen man squad. His side however were in good form with four victories from their last five matches. St.Helens would be a stern test of how far this Salford side have come in 2022.

The pitch as usual looked immaculate at kick off on a picture postcard scene. The atmosphere was electric and you could sense the excitement amongst the Salford supporters. The rugby league the team have played in recent weeks had been so entertaining. Today would be the day when the Super League would take note of a side that is proving people wrong.

With Ryan Brierley out injured Dan Sarginson came back in at fullback after a very lengthy injury layoff. The rest of the spine remained settled. Sam Luckley returned from suspension along with Sitaleki Akauola.

The Red Devils settled into the game very well and rattled their illustrious visitors. Salford’s super quick tempo took Saints by surprise and a nice short pass sent Akauola over for the first try.

Ken Sio judged the kick off well and took the ball out to gain advantage further up the pitch. Just like last week in Toulouse Tim Lafai with a pass out the back put Joe Burgess in for a breath taking try. Salford were looking unstoppable and on the next play they roared up the field. Lafai again set Burgess away before the supporting Sarginson went over for Salford’s third try.

The Red Devils were playing with so much style and confidence it was a joy to watch.

This time they attacked the right edge. Sio took an absolute pearl of a pass before setting Kallum Watkins up for another terrific try. Marc Sneyd had kicked two from four to give Salford a 20-0 lead. It had been a golden twenty five minute spell leaving the Super League champions mesmerised.

Saints were making mistakes but a lot of that was down to the pressure and hunger of the Salford defence. Lazy marker play allowed Andy Ackers to cut loose. Burgess broke again and clicked effortlessly through the gears to score.

Marc Sneyd attempted a penalty goal on the hooter but the kick fell short. A 26-0 lead though was much deserved to leave the Salford supporters absolutely buzzing with what they had just witnessed.

If you’ve been watching Salford for a significant number of years you can be forgiven for being cautious even when your in front with a comfortable lead. Saints being a champion team full of international players were certainly capable of mounting a challenge in the second half.

Salford continued to work hard in defence. Every player filled in and did the graft that needed doing. The Red Devils weathered the early stages well and when the chance came boy did they take it. The hard working Elijah Taylor put Greg Burke over through a huge gap in the visitors defence.

Jack Welsby finally got Saints on the scoresheet in the fifty seventh minute with a well taken try.

Salford’s confidence was through the roof. The next try was sheer poetry in motion. Slick passing and tremendous ball movement saw Watkins race over for his second try.

Tim Lafai looked unplayable at times. So elusive evading tackles and his ability to offload a ball in impossible situations made him a constant threat. His opposite number Konrad Hurrell just couldn’t get to grips with him all afternoon.

Lafai broke again and Brodie Croft beat the Saints defence showing lighting pace to scorch over.

A strange decision from referee Jack Smith saw Taylor sin binned as Salford were punished by a barrage of penalties. Alex Walmersley powered over to round of the scoring.

This was a golden day for Salford. A team with its fair share of injuries and adversity but the spirt and resilience this team has makes them dangerous. Eight fantastic tries this afternoon makes them absolutely box office to watch at the moment. The players, coaches, staff and supporters deserve all the plaudits as they continue to prove people wrong. They also continue to do their great City Proud.

The teams that day,

Salford, Cross, Sio, Sarginson, Lafai, Burgess, Croft, Sneyd, Akauola, Ackers, Ormondroyd, Watkins, Taylor, Gerrard.

Subs, Burke, Lannon, Atkin, Luckley.

St.Helens. Welsby, Bennison, Hurrell, Davies, Grace, Lomax, Roby, Walmersley, Lussick, Lees, Sironen, Batchelor, Knowles.

Subs, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Paasi, Wingfield, Bell.

Referee, Jack Smith.

Attendance, 6041.

Sunday’s match.

Thinking back to our last match just over a fortnight ago something that really stood out for me was the commitment and attitude of the players. I sensed a bit more belief from them. Wigan were never in any danger of losing the game but that said the desire and determination from our players to never give in gave the supporters a huge lift. 

Nathan Connell has really stood out in recent weeks. I think he’d be the first to admit he’s far from the finished article but his enthusiasm and willingness to learn on the job has been there for all to see. Prior to the 2025 season starting Connell wasn’t expected to be in the first team on a regular basis but with the way things have shaped up he’s grabbed his chance. It was great to see him score last time out against Wigan. You can see him growing in confidence game by game.

Jack Ormondroyd has been outstanding this season as I’ve mentioned on numerous occasions but another player who has lead by example is Joe Shorrocks. Joe has a terrific engine and work rate which has been much needed in the circumstances so far this season. Let’s not forget he’s still only a young player himself at the age of twenty five. 

St.Helens have enjoyed lots of success in the last decade, that said though Salford have really raised their game in this fixture in recent years. The Red Devils have won four of the last five meetings at the Community Stadium and were unlucky not to win the 2023 encounter. Saints edged that game after a little bit of controversy 15-18.

As I write this preview in the early part of the week we still don’t know what Paul Rowley’s squad will look like. The squad will be announced around lunchtime on Friday. The bookmakers have been very cagey when it comes to Salford’s fixtures. All the match odds and handicaps get published on Monday’s but with Salford’s predicament in 2025 it’s usually on the match day when the bookies finally show their hand.

The action gets underway at 3pm. Safe travels and enjoy the match.

Paul Whiteside. 

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