Salford v Sheffield Eagles.

Up to now it’s been a very positive week for Salford. The victory over North Wales Crusaders was definitely expected but the new combinations and the debut of youngster Riley Johnson made it a very good Sunday. News broke on Tuesday of Dave Hewitt staying on to be Salford coach for 2027. This will put to bed rumours of someone new coming in and allow Dave to keep building on the great work he is doing. Continuity is the key I think in our current situation. We’ve got a squad of players that are hungry and willing to learn. Can you imagine this group of players in the early months of 2027 after a full preseason of development. I think I’d be naive if I thought we won’t sign any players in the off season but I hope the recruitment process continues to be smart and very careful. It would be easy to go for quick fixes and players at the back end of their careers. I think now is the perfect opportunity to build a culture with a group of players that can leave the club in safe hands for years to come. I am not happy with the current structure of our sport if I am honest but one thing I’ve become convinced of is that Salford do the right thing for the supporters and the players. We must look at the bigger picture now. Lots of clubs have fell foul of chasing a dream including ourselves to a certain extent but just think how enjoyable this season is becoming. Of course you want to achieve things in sport and promotion is one at the pinnacle. I don’t think a timescale is needed in our current position though

In 2026 we’ve started with a clean slate. This hasn’t been easy though and it’s only now we are starting to get things together. Think back to the month of March. We were really struggling to even compete at championship level. The club was at one of the lowest points in my lifetime. Four months later the transformation is truly remarkable. We can thank the players, staff, supporters and everyone involved in the club for this. The spirit that oozes out is there for all to see.

Looking back to last Sunday I must give a special mention to Owen Haldenby. I spoke to him after the match and to hear his enthusiasm was really inspiring. Owen lives in the Hull area so as you can imagine commuting to Salford for training and matches takes a lot of desire and dedication when you have a full time job. Owen also scored his first tries for the club and I think this young man will get better and better.

Lewis Pilling also grabbed a brace. It’s been great to see Lewis grow in confidence and blossom week after week. Toby Hughes is still a very young man himself but the work he’s putting in with Lewis and Riley Johnson is heart warming to see and just emphasises everything we’ve just spoke about.

On this week’s Bring on The Salford podcast we had Danny Lynch on as our guest. He is another player that’s had a very interesting journey to arrive at Salford. Danny is another smashing lad who’s desperate to take his chance. His brother plays for Swinton and they work together in the trade doing heating, plumbing and joinery so the banter over the next few weeks could get tasty! The podcast is definitely worth a listen if you get chance. 

 League home record.

Salford 8

Draws 1

Sheffield Eagles 2

2015 Salford 53 Sheffield Eagles 34 (Middle Eights)

2008 Salford 34 Sheffield Eagles 10

2000 Salford 18 Huddersfield/Sheffield 8

1999 Salford 26 Sheffield 12

1998 Salford 8 Sheffield Eagles 28

1997 Salford 17 Sheffield Eagles 16

1995 Salford 24 Sheffield Eagles 20

1993 Salford 20 Sheffield Eagles 32

1993 Salford 48 Sheffield Eagles 12

1989 Salford 20 Sheffield Eagles 20

1984 Salford 50 Sheffield Eagles 16

They played for both.

Simon Baldwin, Carl Briggs, Matty Costello, Damien Gibson, Ben Gledhill, Ben Hellewell, Brad Hepi, Will Hope, Gary Jack, Jordan James, Ben Jones-Bishop, Francis Leota, Scott Martin, Adam Neal, Gareth Owen, Sam Panapa, Nick Pinkney, Darren Shaw, Mitch Stringer, Jack Walker, Kris Welham and Kai Morgan.

A match to remember Friday 11th April 1997.

Salford 17 Sheffield Eagles 16.

It’s hard to believe it’s almost thirty years since our first test of Super League Rugby. After back to back title wins in the second tier over 1995 and 1996, Salford took their wave of momentum into the top flight. A fantastic run in the Challenge cup was back up by terrific performances in the League games. 

Going into this Friday night fixture in April 1997 Salford had won all four Super League games and sat proudly in third position in the league table. The Eagles had made a stuttering start to 97 and coach Phil Larder was beginning to be put under pressure. 

This match could have gone either way but Salford went in front thanks to two Steve Blakeley penalty goal’s. The Eagles hit back with tries from Nick Pinkney and Matt Crowther to lead 4-10 at halftime. 

It took a moment of controversy to fire Salford up. Eagles prop Paul Broadbent flattened David Hulme but was only shown a yellow card by referee Steve Ganson. Blakeley darted through a gap to score and this brought him to a 1000 points for the club, an incredible milestone. The conversion brought the score level at 10-10.

With just fifteen minutes remaining Keith Senior took Mark Aston’s huge kick to score a try.

Salford kept piling on the pressure and Blakeley kicked another conversion to level the match after Peter Edwards scored a super try on the back of good work from Andy Burgess and Scott Naylor. With just seven minutes remaining the teams were level at 16-16. Salford lost big forward John Cartwright who broke his arm during the match which would big a big blow as the season went on. 

As the game clocked into injury time Ian Watson thumped a drop goal attempt from around forty yards out. It sailed over like an exocet missile. 17-16. The hooter sounded and Salford moved to second in the table behind the pace setting Bradford Bulls. 

The teams that day, 

Salford, Broadbent, Sini, Naylor,McAvoy, Rogers, Blakeley, Watson, Southern, Edwards, Eccles, Forber, Cartwright, Hulme.

Subs, Martin, Faimalo, Burgess.

Sheffield, Stott, Crowther, Pinkney, Senior, García, Doyle, Aston, Broadbent, Lawless, Edmed, McAllister, Flynn, Wood.

Subs, Thompson, Hay.

Attendance, 4,686.

Referee, Steve Ganson.

Sunday’s match.

The two sides met at the end of April over in South Yorkshire and I think it’s fair to say Salford were far from their best. A slow start left us chasing the game and eventually coming up short. Half back Jordan Abdul was probably the difference and over the last few weeks he’s built a decent partnership with Kai Morgan at the Eagles. 

I don’t think it’s a case of worrying about Sheffield and their threats to be honest. It’s more a case of us doing what we can right and controlling our game. A fast start is needed and one thing we now have is a pack that can mix it with any team in the league. 

With Brad Dwyer returning alongside Joe Hartley and Shaun Costello, Dave Hewitt is going to have some difficult decisions to make regarding the team selection. If Salford can play at the same level of intensity they did against Workington and Barrow we’ve got a great chance of a positive result. 

Eagles coach Craig Lingard is a very shrewd coach. Like Hewitt he is a real student of the game. If both these sides play to their potential then Sunday should be a very entertaining and enjoyable game.

The action gets under way at 3pm

Safe travels and enjoy the game.

Paul Whiteside. 

Big thanks to Steve McCormick, Adam Hanglin and Gareth Lyons for the photos and the Salford match day programme.