Such is Rangi Chase’s record with misdemeanours and suspensions that it would be a tad extreme to label him a poster boy for Super League but there is little doubting that, when the good outweighs the bad, he is generally worth the admission fee alone.
With Salford’s much-publicised struggle for crowds still a concern nearly three years into Marwan Koukash’s ownership of the club, perhaps the best marketing strategy would be plastering videos of Chase’s brilliance all over big screens in Manchester city centre, as it is certainly on a par with any class one is likely to see at Old Trafford or the Etihad Stadium.
After another disappointing season in 2015 Salford desperately needed a talisman if they were to emerge from the Qualifiers with their Super League status intact. And after providing the telling contribution during Salford’s opening weekend win against Wakefield last week, Chase almost single-handedly guided the Red Devils to a victory against Leigh which was a huge step towards an all-important top-three finish in the race for the remaining spots in Super League next year.
Already a YouTube sensation after a superb pass for a Josh Griffin try against Hull FC back in March, Chase ensured he grabbed the headlines once again with several stunning plays – including a remarkable solo try – to serve up a firm reminder to Leigh of just how tough it will be to force their way into Super League.
“We spoke to him at half-time about being more direct,” said the acting Salford head coach, Ian Watson. “People struggle with him in training so those who only see him once a week will always have it tough. I thought he was sensational today, it was one of his best performances for us.”
Leigh could have been closer than the 16 points they trailed by at the break after tries from Ben Jones-Bishop, Scott Taylor and Iain Thornley, but they spurned a number of opportunities before providing a fightback in the second half. Chase’s first of two tries made it 22-0 on 43 minutes before Leigh grabbed two quick scores from Adam Higson and Gregg McNally, the latter after a scintillating break from Ryan Brierley.
But Chase then took control of the game, and, if his initial break and subsequent kick found Junior Sa’u for Salford’s fifth try was impressive, what followed next was sheer magic; the former England international appeared to be backed into a corner by three Leigh defenders, but he somehow stepped away before dancing round two more Centurions and racing home to seal the result.
That brilliance from Chase had inspired Salford to take off the shackles, and further tries from Niall Evalds and Greg Johnson completed the rout, before McNally added a consolation with his second. One would imagine that Bradford, Salford’s next opponents in the Qualifiers, will have a fair few sleepless nights this week trying to deduce how to keep Chase quiet – a task few have succeeded in achieving over the years.
“In six weeks’ time I might say this is the best thing to happen to us,” said Paul Rowley, the Leigh coach, whose side have now started the Qualifiers with two straight losses. “It’s man in the mirror time for us but it’s also time to keep our nerve – there’s lots of twists still to come.”
Salford Evalds; Jones-Bishop, Sa’u, Thornley, Johnson; Chase, Dobson; Griffin, Tomkins, Taylor, Hansen, Maitua, Paterson Interchange Lee, Krasniqi, Tasi, Morley
Tries Jones-Bishop, Taylor, Thornley, Chase 2, Sa’u, Evalds, Johnson Goals Dobson 7
Leigh McNally; Higson, Pala, Armstrong, Kay; Ridyard, Brierley; Emmitt, Higham, Wilkes, Dixon, Goulden, Barlow. Interchange Beswick, Haggerty, Aspinwall, Moimoi
Tries Higson, McNally 2 Goals Ridyard 3
Referee R Silverwood Attendance 4,547.
