ESL ESL Salford - News and Views

[S J]

Venue: AJ Bell Stadium Date: Thursday, 26 September Kick-off: 19:45 BST Coverage: BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra & BBC local radio; live text coverage on the BBC Sport website and app

Salford Red Devils name an unchanged side for their Super League play-off eliminator against Castleford Tigers on Thursday. Ian Watson's side were defeated by Wigan Warriors at the DW Stadium on Friday while Cas sealed their place by beating Warrington on Thursday.

Castleford make two changes from the side that defeated the Wire.

Mike McMeeken and Calum Turner miss out as Nathan Massey and Greg Eden come into the visitors' 19-man squad.

 

[S J]

Salford Red Devils (14) 22

Tries: McCarthy, Bibby, Hastings Goals: Inu 5

Castleford Tigers (0) 0

Salford Red Devils are within one win of Super League's Grand Final after beating Castleford Tigers in their play-off eliminator.

Salford will face the loser of Saints and Wigan, with the winner on 4 October heading to Old Trafford eight days later.

Tigers' hopes of a second Grand Final appearance in three seasons are over.

Tyrone McCarthy and Jake Bibby scored first-half tries and Jackson Hastings added a solo effort late on.

 

[S J]

"We're a bunch of misfits, I've said it before. We've got pretty much 30 blokes who have been discarded and told they weren't good enough."

Those were the words of star half-back Jackson Hastings after Salford Red Devils upset the odds once more, beating Wigan Warriors 28-4.

 

[S J]

Wigan Warriors (0) 4

Try: French

Salford Red Devils (12) 28

Tries: Dudson, Lussick, Mossop Goals: Inu 8

Salford Red Devils reached their first Super League Grand Final after upstaging five-time champions Wigan Warriors at the DW Stadium.

Just 12 months after battling to avoid relegation, the Red Devils have stunned the English rugby league establishment to book a meeting with St Helens at Old Trafford on Saturday, 12 October.

Ex-Wigan prop Gil Dudson's try helped put Salford 12-0 up at the break.

Another ex-Warriors forward Lee Mossop also touched down to seal a famous win.

Former New Zealand and Samoa centre Krisnan Inu crucially contributed 16 points with the boot, with his composure in landing two early penalties setting up the little-fancied Red Devils for one of Super League's most famous upsets.

Dudson's first-half try and further four-pointers from Joey Lussick and Mossop put the visitors on their way to Old Trafford just after the hour mark, with a Bevan French try for Wigan coming as a late consolation effort.

 

[S J]

Salford Red Devils have signed London Broncos trio Elliot Kear, Rhys Williams and Luke Yates.

Versatile back Kear, 30, winger Williams, 29, and forward Yates, 24, were part of the London team relegated from Super League in September.