Salford v Hull Kingston Rovers.
I don’t know about you but I switched off from Rugby League at the weekend. I took my wife up to Haworth in my van for an afternoon out. Helen spoke to her dad on the phone on the way there and Salford surprisingly came up in the conversation. I wasn’t ear wigging but I listened with interest as Helen did her best to explain the current plight of Salford RLFC. Her dad is a St.Helens supporter for his sins. I tried not to worry about things but that said it was another noisy week in the media regarding Salford.
Back to reality this week and while most clubs are planning for 2026 we continue to sit in a sort of limbo situation. A lot is being said about the likes of York, Bradford and Toulouse in the Championship and will the Super League increase to fourteen teams. At times Rugby League seems very ad hoc, it’s almost made up as it floats along. The sport lacks any sort of strategic structure. A few people have asked me recently about where I think Salford will be next season and I’ve struggled to answer the question. It would be nice to hear from our ‘owners’ to get their vision and plan for beyond 2025.
With just eight matches left Salford supporters are desperately awaiting some positive news! A crumb of comfort, a statement of reassurance from those in authority.
This is definitely a subject we will be revisiting in the coming weeks. As the countdown continues to the end of the season the situation for the supporters and players gets more desperate by the hour.
As I write this preview on Monday evening it’s been announced that clubs have voted today to increase the Super League to fourteen teams next year. I’ll be honest I didn’t even know they were meeting this week to make this decision. I really hope the outcome that is reached is as fair as it possibly can be. Rugby League seems to be more divided than ever at club level. This decision when it’s decided could make the infighting even more prevalent.
This weeks visitors Hull Kingston Rovers have been the most consistent team in the competition in 2025. Victory in the Challenge cup final brought the Robins their first major trophy in forty years. The club has built slowly off the field in the last decade since returning to the top flight. Momentum has been built both on and off the field and this has put them in a very powerful position. Recruitment has been very smart and coach Willie Peters seems to get the very last ounce of talent and commitment out of his players. Like Paul Rowley, Peters has terrific man management skills and players will give him nothing but one hundred percent.
The big question is can Rovers break the Rugby league cartel and win the Grand Final.
As an outsider looking in I think they have the belief, ability and confidence to go all the way. However on a damp, wet night in October at Old Trafford it is always very tough and if they are to get there it’s another huge hurdle to cross.
Over the last few years East Hull has been absolutely buzzing. It’s similar to the situation at Leigh. If you rewind to the late 1970s and early 80s the Robins were one of the teams to beat. Winning trophies and appearing in many finals it’s a time that put the club on the map. It was around that time that Leigh won their last Championship (1981/82). I think it’s been great to see clubs coming back and challenging again. It makes the sport much more exciting.
Super League home record.
Salford 7
Draw 1
Hull Kingston Rovers 7
2007 Salford 24 Hull kr 30
2009 Salford 10 Hull Kr 14
2010 Salford 18 Hull Kr 44
2011 Salford 34 Hull Kr 18
2012 Salford 10 Hull Kr 18
2013 Salford 38 Hull Kr 34
2014 Salford 16 Hull Kr 16
2015 Salford 31 Hull Kr 18
2016 Salford 44 Hull Kr 26
2016 Salford 12 Hull Kr 29 (Qualifiers)
2018 Salford 36 Hull Kr 12
2019 Salford 17 Hull Kr 16
2022 Salford 16 Hull Kr 26
2023 Salford 10 Hull Kr 24
2024 Salford 17 Hull Kr 10
They played for both.
Here are a selection of players to have represented The Robins and The Red Devils
Greg Austin, Colin Dixon, Greg Burke, Chris Charles, Michael Dobson, Sean Gleeson, Darrell Goulding, David Hodgson, Lee Jewitt, Justin Carney, Jordan Walne, Phil Joseph, Tommy Lee, Tyrone McCarthy, Craig Murdock, Cory Paterson, Gareth Price, Scott Taylor, Tony Puletua, Richard Smith, Iain Thornley, Kris Welham, Chris Atkin, Ken Sio, Adam Walker, Ryan Lannon, Sam Luckley Joe Burgess and Niall Evalds.
A match to remember Saturday 2nd March 2024.
Salford 17 Hull Kingston Rovers 10.
Salford coach Paul Rowley had named an unchanged seventeen but things changed just before kick off with Ryan Brierley pulling out injured and Chris Atkin slotted in at fullback. Youngster Kai Morgan came in on the bench from eighteenth man.
The Robins brought a big following that packed the north stand and despite the miserable weather the atmosphere was electric at kick off.
Salford started on the front foot with the evergreen Mark Sneyd pulling the strings once again. Cade Cust seems to have taken the pressure off Sneyd and the pair are working well together.
Sneyd created the first try with another measured kick which Deon Cross profited from. Sneyd converted 6-0.
Rovers went on to dominate possession in the first half. Mikey Lewis and Jez Litten worked hard with the big pack they had ploughing towards a tough and resilient Red Devils defence.
Salford worked overtime to keep their visitors at bay and the scrambling defence at times was outstanding and worth the admission fee!
Amir Bourouh again shined bright at hooker with another hard working display and Chris Hankinson impressed both in attack and defence. Hankinson scored Salford’s second try with a lovely pick up and when Sneyd booted the conversion the Red Devils were in complete control at 12-0 at the break.
It’s fair to say Rovers have plenty of size in there pack but Salford matched them set for set. Brad Singleton and Jack Ormondroyd both put huge shifts in along with King Vuniyayawa.
Former Salford winger Joe Burgess coughed up a kick yards from his line and a penalty soon followed. Sneyd had no hesitation in kicking for goal and not long after a late tackle provided another penalty which Sneyd booted over, 16-0.
Kallum Watkins broke down the right edge as Salford looked to close the door but when Deon Cross pulled Burgess back as he attempted a quick restart he was sin binned for a professional foul.
Once again the Red Devils worked tirelessly in defence but the pressure finally told when Hiku scored, 16-4.
Mikey Lewis came close to scoring for Rovers but a possible penalty try was ruled out for offside and rightly so.
Hiku was sin binned for back chatting the referee in the sixty third minute but when Litten burst through to score the Robins were right back in the match.
Sneyd confined to boss the game for Salford though and he took the sting out of Rovers with a wonderful kicking game. With nine minutes remaking we were set for a grandstand finish. Sneyd worked his magic, got in the pocket and calmly dropped a goal.
Atkin came up with more miraculous defensive work to keep Rovers at bay and when the hooter sounded Salford’s heroic mission was complete.
Before the match the Grand final odds were 100-1 Salford and 10-1 Hull Kr. The Red Devils made a mockery of that with a terrific display to build on last weeks win.
The teams that night;
Salford: Atkin, Hankinson, Macdonald, Lafai, Cross; Cust, Sneyd; Ormondroyd, Bourouh, Singleton, Stone, Watkins, Shorrocks.
Subs, Morgan, Vuniyayawa, Wright, Hellewell.
Sin-bin: Cross (53).
Hull KR: Hiku, Burgess, Opacic, Gildart, Hall; May, Lewis; Hadley, Litten, Whitbread, Tanginoa, Batchelor, Minchella.
Subs, Sue, King, Parcell, Luckley.
Sin-bin: Hiku (63).
Referee, Tom Grant.
Attendance, 5,036.
Thursday’s match.
I used last seasons fixture between the two sides as the match to remember this week. If you look back at the Salford side from March 2024 ten of the starting thirteen are no longer at the club if you include Nene Macdonald. That is a real drastic turnaround of players. It doesn’t take an expert to predict that the Robins will be overwhelming favourites to win Thursday’s match comfortably. Since last season’s meeting in this fixture Rovers have played forty five league matches and won thirty six of them. Out of those victories they have nilled their opponents on seven occasions. That level of consistency and defensive brilliance makes the Robins arguably the best side in the country.
After back to back defeats at the start of July they got back to winning ways last time out with a big win in the South of France against Catalans. Arthur Mourgue has been an inspired signing since arriving from the Dragons. He’s a dangerous player on attack as well as being an accomplished defender. His goal kicking ability has been another huge boost for a team that lacked a reliable kicker.
Tom Davies and Joe Burgess both scored plenty of tries for Wigan earlier in their careers. These two are now pretty lethal on both edges for Rovers. Jack Broadbent can play in a number of positions and he’s improved out of sight in 2025. Rovers have lots of options in the pack and every week their bench is full of power and size.
After failing a HIA on his return to the side a few weeks ago Loghan Lewis is set to return. Exciting fullback Declan Murphy has signed a deal until the end of the season and after two very impressive performances so far he is set to feature again. Since arriving from Warrington I’ve been very impressed with Dan Russell. He’s added size to the pack and the no nonsense forward isn’t afraid to get stuck in. Last time out at Leeds Jack Ormondroyd and Chris Hill were at their consistent best. These two must be in the running for the player of the year award. I know Rob and Parky on the Devil in the Detail podcast will be totting up the three word man of the match awards to see who picks up our player of the year. I believe it’s a very close run thing at the moment.
As supporters a lot of what is going on off the field at Salford and indeed in the sport at the moment is very much out of our control. One thing we can do though is get behind our players with everything we’ve got for these remaining eight games. We might not get the outcome and ending we want or deserve but if we stand together I think we will be ok.
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.