Salford Red Devils vs Widnes Vikings
Super League Qualifiers - Saturday 18th August – AJ Bell Stadium KO 3:15PM
The Red Devils will be looking to make it two wins from two from the Qualifiers as they meet the Widnes Vikings this weekend at the AJ Bell.
Salford got off to winning ways in the first qualifier of the season as Ian Watson’s men demonstrated exceptional professionalism in overcoming an in-form Hull KR side, 28 points to 10 away from home. One of the highlights being Robert Lui running in a 90-metre intercepted try.
All eyes now turn to Saturday’s key game against the Vikings who will bring a battle scarred side to the AJ Bell after having lost 17 super league and qualifying games on the run.
Their last victory? A 24-16 home win against The Red Devils way back in March. A fixture no doubt that will have featured highly in the talk amongst the coaches and team in the run up to the game at the weekend.
It’s critical therefore that the team continue their good recent performances against the Vikings and that the halves continue to show they are cultivating an understanding between each other.
Here are some critical match ups where the game could be won and lost:
Prop: Greg Burke v Chris Huston
Signed in June this year from Widnes, Greg Burke will be desperate to get on the pitch to face his former employees. Last time Salford faced Widnes, he scored a debut try under the posts with the teams tied at 12-12. A score that turned out to be a match winner. If he’s fit enough after a short spell on the side-lines, Ian Watson will be sure to play the 25-Year-old Prop. He will just need to ensure his emotions don’t get the better of him.
Aussie forward Chris Huston has played in all areas in the Widnes pack and is expected to be in the Prop position. Always a tough tackler, his career has included NRL appearances for The North Queensland Cowboys and The Newcastle Knights. The latter he stayed with for four years and during the 2012 season averaged over 41 tackles per game, the best in the NRL that year.
Expect fireworks as always in the props match up.
Hooker: Joey Lussick vs Aaron Heremaia
In his first appearance for the Red Devils last week, Joey Lussick scored a typical hooker’s scooting try and was involved in one of Salford’s most complete away performances of the season. His link up with the halves was particularly impressive seeing as he has only been with the club a few short weeks and it could be this link up and previous knowledge and understanding between himself and Hastings at school-boy, Roosters and Manly back in Australia, that may well be the edge that Salford need this season. If he can repeat this performance and grow his relationship with the halves even further, it will likely mean a spot in Super League beckons for the Red Devils in 2019.
Aaron Heremaia
Another Australasian import this time from Auckland, New Zealand, Heremaia could be set to make his 100th appearance for the Widnes Vikings this weekend. He will therefore want to ensure that his side will come away with a win to rubber stamp this occasion. The last time his side won a super league match – it was against The Red Devils – he featured heavily and scored a late try to ensure their victory. It’s up to Salford to ensure lightning doesn’t strike twice this season.
Loose Forward: Mark Flanagan vs Weller Hauraki
Mark Flanagan has once again been the glue holding the team together this season. His consistency of performances and level of professionalism are second to none and the run of poor form leading up the qualifiers would have hurt him more than most other players. His awareness of space is something that the Salford halves will be able to utilise to their advantage in broken play. As well as being the 3rd pivot or dummy runner to allow passes further out wide in set plays. What’s key is that he stays fit for the rest of this season to ensure there is a calm head on the field during moments of pressure in this run of games.
After his loan move in June from Salford to Widnes in a swap deal with Greg Burke and Ed Chamberlain, Weller Hauraki has been solid in a losing team, making 8 appearances so far for the Vikings. Ian Watson will know his strengths and weaknesses and will hope to exploit them. Culpable occasionally of dropping the ball and an over-ambitious offload, the Red Devils will want to get up quickly on him to try and disrupt his game.
Halves: Jackson Hastings vs Liam Finn
Since his arrival last month, Jackson Hastings is already a firm fan’s favourite. After a storming 20-minute cameo in the home victory at Leeds, he cemented his place at the heart of the team with a dominant display of kicking and creativity against Hull KR. Not only that, but he also stepped up and showed his kicking prowess by scoring goals in the second half. His willingness to be the main man has allowed Rob Lui to relax and therefore flourish in a backline that looks as threatening as it did last season. Should he remain fit, the Red Devils should be confident of securing their place in Super league for 2019.
Liam Finn signed only a few weeks ago for the Widnes Vikings from Wakfield Trinity after helping them yet again into the Super 8’s competition. He had 79 appearances since 2016 and will be a good loan signing for the rest of the campaign. It will be critical that Salford starve Finn of any possession high up the field as his kicks and passing can be destructive in the right areas. If he can strike up a partnership with his three-quarter team mates quickly, it will go a long way to deciding where the Vikings may finish in the Qualifiers.
With the squad in place that the Red Devils have now and the options open to Ian Watson, coupled with Widnes’s defensive and mental frailties should they go behind, Salford fans must be confident of a good performance and most importantly another 2 points on the road to Super League in 2018.
C’mon Salford!
