As this extraordinary Super League season enters its second half it is becoming increasingly evident that Salford are not going to fall away from the title race.
Had it not been for Castleford’s dominance this season, Salford’s transformation into genuine contenders would have been the most eye-catching of all.
Eight months ago Salford were, to all intents and purposes, relegated: with three minutes left of the Million Pound Game last year, they trailed Hull Kingston Rovers by eight points. Somehow they survived and now sit in second, four points clear of third-placed Leeds, after this latest win, their seventh in succession. For a side who have spent the majority of the summer era at the wrong end of the table, this is officially uncharted territory.
“We know where we want to be and what we want to do as a group,” said Ian Watson, the man who has overseen this incredible revival at Salford. “It’s six years since we last won here and to do the double over them is fantastic.”
Watson could even afford to leave some of his bigger names out of the side for the second half of this double-header weekend – but his fringe players took their chance superbly, particularly the half‑back Todd Carney. The former Dally M winner has struggled since his arrival in Super League several years ago, but he was magnificent here, having a hand in all three of the tries that put Salford into an 18-0 lead they never looked like surrendering.
Jake Bibby scored the first before a Carney break laid the platform for Niall Evalds to cross for the first of his three tries – with the winger’s other two coming from devastating left-edge breaks – and, after Junior Sa’u had scored two of his own, Salford were 30-6 up with plenty of time to spare. Their free-flowing play has, at times this year, been right up there with the performances of the league leaders – but as for Warrington, who could only muster a response through Brad Dwyer and Tom Lineham, they now look in danger of being sucked into a battle to avoid the Qualifiers once again.
“I don’t give in easily,” said the Wolves coach, Tony Smith – who arrived for his post-match press conference shortly after the Wolves claimed a Facebook post alleging the league’s longest-serving coach had left his position was due to the club being hacked. However, there is little doubting the pressure is firmly on Smith to turn around Warrington’s season.
Salford remain two points adrift of the league leaders after Castleford hammered Leigh Centurions 38-0. The Tigers were once again in scintillating form and were too good for Leigh, who are now only a point clear of Widnes at the bottom, after they beat Leeds 28-20. Wakefield were the day’s other big winners, overturning a 20-0 lead to win 42-30 at the reigning champions, Wigan.
Warrington Ratchford; Russell, Hughes, Atkins, Lineham; Brown, Patton; Hill, Clark, Cooper, Jullien, Philbin, Westerman. Interchange Sims, Dwyer, King, Savelio.
Tries Dwyer, Lineham. Goals Patton 2.
Salford O’Brien; Johnson, Bibby, Sa’u, Evalds; Lui, Carney; Tasi, Brining, Hasson, Murdoch-Masila, Hauraki, Flanagan. Interchange Kopczak, Krasniqi, Wood, Murray.
Tries Bibby, Evalds 3, Sa’u 2, Brining. Goals O’Brien 5.
Referee P Bentham. Attendance 10,684.
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