Salford v Wigan.
It seems a good while now since our last gam away at Leigh. I watched both the Challenge Cup semi final games last weekend and despite two very one sided matches they were enjoyable. In modern day Rugby League their is no substitute for pace, Wigan and Warrington had that in abundance. The Warriors have strike players all over the pitch, a formidable pack and add to that so much power and quality on the bench it makes them huge favourites to regain their League title at the end of the season. Coach Matty Peet has built a fantastic squad with plenty of depth and options to rest players when needed.
Salford now meet Wigan for the second time this season in a home fixture with this being one of our ‘loop games’. It’s seems odd because we’ve not played Catalans or Hull at all yet. It would make much more sense to play everybody home and away before playing the loop games at the end of the season.
Salford were very impressive against Wigan when the two sides met just over two months ago. The Warriors seemed to have gone through the gears since then though and their current form is very good. That said they were beaten comfortably away to Hull Kingston Rovers at the back end of last month but in their three games this month they’ve looked pretty formidable.
Salford were very disappointing last time out against Leigh with injuries to Paul Rowley’s pack beginning to mount up rather alarmingly. So far this season The Red Devils have been very solid in their home fixtures with four victories and just one defeat.
Super league home record
Salford 5
Draws 0
Wigan 23
1997 Salford 14 Wigan 4
1998 Salford 2 Wigan 34
1999 Salford 6 Wigan 46
2000 Salford 18 Wigan 30
2001 Salford 31 Wigan 30
2002 Salford 24 Wigan 46
2004 Salford 16 Wigan 32
2005 Salford 20 Wigan 34
2006 Salford 28 Wigan 10
2007 Salford 6 Wigan 25
2007 Salford 24 Wigan 50
2009 Salford 12 Wigan 38
2010 Salford 4 Wigan 18
2011 Salford 16 Wigan 32
2012 Salford 20 Wigan 40
2013 Salford 0 Wigan 42
2014 Salford 4 Wigan 25
2015 Salford 24 Wigan 18
2016 Salford 20 Wigan 23
2017 Salford 16 Wigan 26
2018 Salford 12 Wigan 40
2019 Salford 22 Wigan 30
2019 Salford 26 Wigan 30
2020 Salford 18 Wigan 14
2021 Salford 16 Wigan 17
2022 Salford 12 Wigan 30
2023 Salford 6 Wigan 26
2024 Salford 12 Wigan 22
They played for both.
Over the years there have been plenty of players who’ve been at both clubs at some point in their career. Here are a few of them,
Mal Aspey, Neil Baynes, Steve Blakeley, Gavin Clinch, Andy Coley, Michael Dobson, Mark Flanagan, Martin Gleeson, Sean Gleeson, Wayne Godwin, Bobbie Goulding, Andy Gregory, Steve Hampson, Ged Byrne, Paul O Neil, Harrison Hansen, Gareth Hock, Nathan Mcavoy, Lee Mossop, Jack Murphy, David Myers, Martin Offiah, Sam Panapa, John Pendlebury, Luke Robinson, Tim Smith, David Stephenson, Trevor Stockey, Ged Stazicker, Scott Taylor, Logan Tomkins, Colin Whitfield, Jackson Hastings, Jake Bibby, Tyler Dupree, Stephen Wild and Phil Ford.
A match to remember Friday 25th April 1997.
Salford Reds 14 Wigan Warriors 4.
As the 1980s came to a close Wigan were the leading lights in English rugby league. The Challenge Cup dominance continued in to the 1990s and at times they seemed invincible. That cup run came to an end at The Willows in 1996 but today we’re going to look back at the Super League clash from 1997 at Salford.
After two fantastic seasons outside the top flight Salford Reds were promoted to the Super League. It was a fantastic start with victories in our first five games. After the famous cup win this was Wigan’s first visit back to The Willows 14 months later. Reds stand off, former Wigan player Steve Blakeley was inspirational along with half back partner Ian Watson.
Salford Captain Blakeley had been sold by Wigan four years earlier for a bargain fee of £28,000. Another former Wigan legend Andy Gregory made the Warriors suffer as Salford chalked up there 17th successive home win. The home sides work rate and support play was phenomenal with the visitors breaching the water tight defence once all night. The 34 year old David Hulme took the man of the match award.
The Reds playing their best rugby of the season took the lead in the 9th minute when Nathan Mcavoy sent Darren Rogers in at the corner. Daryl Cardiss grabbed a try to put Wigan back in the game. Salford got a crucial try two minutes after the break Blakeley’s grubber kick was hacked on by another ex-Wigan man Scott Naylor and a young fresh faced Ian Watson followed up to score. Blakeley with four goals and a hand in both tries played a huge part in a special night under the lights at The Willows.
Salford came out winners 14-4. We got the double over Wigan in 1997 with an excellent 14-21 victory at Central Park later in the year. When you look back at the job Andy Gregory did at Salford it really is heart warming. Some fantastic wins over some of the best sides around at the time. Friday 25th April 1997 is a night I’ll certainly never forget.
Watching Salford Reds in the mid 90s was pretty special. The club was on the up, a really exciting era in our history.
Referee, Russell Smith
Attendance, 6,626.
Sunday’s match.
After a Grand Final success in 2023 Wigan recruited heavily in the off season. The Warriors have arguably the biggest pack in the Super League and with Sam Walters and Luke Thompson arriving along with the very versatile Kruise Leeming the strength in depth is very impressive. Adam Keighran is a clever player as well as being a reliable goal kicker.
It was announced last week that Salford hooker Amir Bourouh will leave to join Hull at the end of the season. It will be interesting to see who plays at nine this week for Salford. Chris Atkin has been in the halves with Marc Sneyd so their is a good chance Cade Cust will continue at hooker.
Australian winger David Nofoaluma hasn’t featured in the team since the defeat at Castleford over six weeks ago and speculation in the media has linked him with a move away from the club. Chris Hankinson returned from injury last time out against Leigh. Hankinson has made a very solid start to his Salford career and is a very good defensive player. After successful spells with Barrow and Swinton he spent three seasons at Wigan. The much travelled and vastly experienced thirty year old has proved a wise acquisition to this Salford squad.
Tyler Dupree left Salford mid-way through last season to join the Warriors where he has become a firm favourite with the supporters. Dupree is a powerful runner of the ball with an excellent turn of pace, he will be a player to watch out for this Sunday.
The bookmakers have Wigan as favourites to get the victory. Salford have a twelve point start on this weeks betting coupon.
The action gets under way at 3pm.
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 