Huddersfield v Salford.
As I sat down to write this weeks preview I was reading through some match reports from Salford games from the last few seasons. The photos brought back some fantastic memories and I thought to myself even though we’ve not won that elusive major trophy we’ve had some great wins at home and on the road. We’ve punched well above our weight and in my opinion the whole attitude around the club has changed. When I think back to the late 90s and early 2000s it was always enjoyable watching Salford but most of the time we were very average at best. Some dreadful matches and huge scores against at times made us the butt of plenty of jokes and some teams probably didn’t really take us seriously.
Ian Watson created a wonderful team spirit at the club taking us to two major finals. I don’t think Ian has got that just yet at Huddersfield although his team are starting to find form in 2024. Paul Rowley has built something very similar to Watson at Salford and I don’t think money can buy that team spirit and comradeship he’s got.
I suppose what I am trying to say is don’t take things for granted because in sport things can change very quickly. Rowley and Kurt Haggerty have got that magic formula at Salford, that chemistry that brings everyone together. Saturday’s win over Warrington was another proud day for our club and going to Huddersfield this week confidence will be high.
The Giants were unlucky not to win at St.Helens last Thursday. At times they lacked composure and if Jake Connor had kept his cool they could of bagged the two points. Jonny Lomax kept his nerve to drop a super one pointer to pinch the match 13-12.
Super League away record.
Huddersfield 12
Draws 0
Salford 15
1998 Huddersfield 12 Salford 16
1999 Huddersfield 24 Salford 10
2000 Huddersfield/Sheffield 10 Salford 18
2001 Huddersfield 24 Salford 32
2001 Huddersfield 35 Salford 14
2004 Huddersfield 26 Salford 14
2004 Huddersfield 28 Salford 22
2005 Huddersfield 26 Salford 10
2006 Huddersfield 32 Salford 18
2006 Huddersfield 24 Salford 18
2007 Huddersfield 16 Salford 18
2009 Huddersfield 4 Salford 24
2010 Huddersfield 52 Salford 4
2011 Huddersfield 52 Salford 22
2012 Huddersfield 36 Salford 10
2013 Huddersfield 46 Salford 4
2014 Huddersfield 10 Salford 36
2015 Huddersfield 12 Salford 18
2016 Huddersfield 24 Salford 26
2017 Huddersfield 20 Salford 30
2018 Huddersfield 12 Salford 30
2019 Huddersfield 14 Salford 34
2020 Huddersfield 16 Salford 24
2021 Huddersfield 8 Salford 9
2022 Huddersfield 34 Salford 2
2022 Huddersfield 0 Salford 28 (play off match)
2023 Huddersfield 8 Salford 32
They played for both.
Here is a selection of players to play for both clubs,
Steve Kerry, Danny Arnold, Greg Austin, David Bradbury, Jodie Broughton, Ryan Clayton, Gavin Clinch, Greg Eden, Simon Finnigan, Matt Gardner, Lee Gaskell, Martin Gleeson, Bobbie Goulding, Darrel Griffin, Josh Griffin, Neil Harmon, David Hodgson, Graham Holroyd, Andy Johnson, Phil Joseph, Craig Kopzack, Michael korkidas, Tommy Lee, Martin Moana, Chris Nero, Robbie Paul, Luke Robinson, Jordan Turner, Adam Walne, Paul White,Stephen Wild, Luke Yates, Theo Fages, Jake Bibby, Harvey Livett, Josh Jones and Tui Lolohea.
A match to remember Saturday 10th September 2022.
Huddersfield 0 Salford 28.
Salford arrived at the John Smith’s Stadium full of confidence and when the players got off the bus to enter the stadium they seemed focused and very determined. Huddersfield Giants have been a tough side to beat in 2022. Runners up in the Challenge cup final and a third place finish in the Super League have been a significant improvement on last season.
Paul Rowley’s Salford side though have become a real threat to the Rugby League cartel. The top sides in the country are finding them so difficult to play against.
Rowley’s players came out to warm up on the pitch prior to kick off and the noise from behind the sticks in the away end was deafening. The supporters seemed fearless and almost expectant now after the recent run of matches.
Salford were now able to name a strong side after over coming a fair few injury struggles earlier in the season.
The match started in rip-roaring fashion. The Red Devils immediately got themselves on the front foot, ferocious in defence and delightful to watch when in possession. Always looking to promote the ball and keep the play flowing. It’s a swashbuckling style of play that you just can’t take your eyes off.
Marc Sneyd put the visitors in front with a penalty goal for a high tackle. Soon after Salford scored the first try of the afternoon. From a set scrum the play went left and Joe Burgess finished off a lovely move.
The blistering start continued. The shell shocked Giants couldn’t stop Brodie Croft as he spilt the defence before putting Kallum Watkins over. Sneyd made it three out of three to put Salford 0-14 in front.
The Giants seemed to lack composure and thumped the kick off out on the full to gift Salford a penalty. The Red Devils then received another penalty within goal kicking range and Sneyd didn’t hesitate taking the two on offer 0-16.
Tui Lolohea kicked through as Huddersfield finally threatened. Ryan Brierley was adjudged to of taken out the Giants half back with a professional foul and referee Robert Hicks sent him to the sin bin. Salford’s Jack Ormondroyd and the Giants veteran prop Chris Hill clashed as tempers flared but it all added to the excitement and the crowd loved it. One of the biggest cheers of the half came after Salford heroically defended their try line like trojans with twelve men. Salford went in leading 0-16 at half time after a pretty faultless first half.
For the first ten minutes of the second half the Giants flexed their muscles and came out firing presumably after an ear bashing from coach Ian Watson. The visitors were solid, organised and full of energy. Everything Huddersfield tried Salford resiliently repelled.
Sneyd this time opted to attack from a penalty rather than take the two and a perfectly measured kick was pounced on by fullback Ryan Brierley who’s smile was a terrific sight as he celebrated a try that gave Huddersfield a mountain to climb.
Salford were now playing without Brodie Croft who they had lost to a head knock just before the break. This didn’t effect the shape of the team though as they stayed calm and composed. Chris Atkin was doing a fine job working with Sneyd. Atkin is so valuable to this Salford side he’s an absolute model professional and credit to the club.
In recent weeks all the talk has been about Salford’s attacking prowess and flair, scoring breath taking tries. This performance was built on magnificent defence, the ability to win every battle on the pitch no matter how big or small and a desire that if you could bottle it would be priceless.
Sneyd went for a drop goal late on but it went through the posts rather than over it and probably would of been a decent goal for Huddersfield Town.
Salford iced the cake when Andy Ackers broke superbly. Ackers has been in sensational form and he threw a dummy which the Giants has no answer to. A cracking try. The final hooter sounded and Sneyd added the conversion.
Salford’s journey in 2022 has been a real fairytale.
The teams that day,
Huddersfield Giants: Lolohea, Cudjoe, King, Leutele, Senior, Fages, Russell, Yates, Jones, McQueen, Hill, Levi, Trout.
Subs : Pryce, Greenwood, Ikahihifo, English.
Salford: Brierley, Sio, Lafai, Cross, Burgess, Croft, Sneyd, Dupree, Ackers, Gerrard, Watkins, Taylor, Wright.
Subs: Vuniyayawa, Atkin, Ormondroyd, Luckley.
Referee, Robert Hicks.
Attendance, 6,374.
Friday’s match.
The Giants sit in seventh place in the Super League two points behind Salford. With five victories and four defeats it’s been another stop start opening to 2024 for Ian Watson’s side. That said Huddersfield had won five games on the spin before last Thursday’s loss at St.Helens. In that run of games they’d been very impressive scoring fifty points twice against Hull as well as a 6-34 win at Catalans in the Challenge Cup and a thrilling 24-30 win at Leeds.
Winger Adam Swift has been in tremendous form. He’s now scored tries in the last nine consecutive matches, a total of fifteen on that run which is outstanding.
Along with Swift Huddersfield have plenty of strike players in Tui Lolohea, Jake Connor, Kevin Naiqama and Jake Bibby. In the pack Luke Yates is a very tough competitor and in Matty English, Joe Greenwood and Sebastine Ikahihifo the Giants have plenty of size.
One forward who’s impressed me recently for Salford is Jack Ormondroyd. Jack is a very strong and powerful lad. He’s a real athlete and he’s playing some of his best rugby at the moment. Andrew Dixon also deserves plenty of praise. He’s not had much game time over the past few seasons but he’s worked so hard in recent weeks and really contributed in both the victories over London and Warrington. Dixon is in his second spell at Salford and he’s played under Paul Rowley at Leigh and Toronto previously.
Ethan Ryan had a struggle with injuries at the start of his Salford career but a man of the match performance last Saturday against Warrington will definitely help his confidence. Ryan is an elusive runner with plenty of pace and he can also finish chances. David Nofoaluma has yet to force his way into the team with Ryan and Deon Cross playing so well.
A trip to Huddersfield is always an enjoyable one and the Salford supporters always travel in big numbers. This fixture has been a good one in recent years. In fact the Red Devils record here in the Super League era is one of the best. Salford have lost just once in the last eleven games at the John Smiths Stadium which is pretty remarkable.
With six wins from nine matches Salford have surprised many people so far this year. Victory on Friday night would be another massive result.
The action gets under way at 8pm.
Safe travels and enjoy the match.
Paul Whiteside.
Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos and the Salford match day programme.
Paul Whiteside Rugby League 