Play off preview #2 - Something old, something new

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Friday night’s play off between Wigan and Salford is a meeting of something old and something new. Wigan are a stalwart of the play offs and have only missed three series' since Super League’s inception. Salford are at the opposite end of the spectrum. In the summer era, they have played in more second-tier play offs than Super League.

That lends intrigue to Friday’s game. Usually, in play off games the bigger “names” prevail. We have seen sides such as Huddersfield and Castleford top the table but they have never had their name etched on the Super League trophy. In what is a poor indictment of the league, only four teams names remain engraved on it.

And one of those is a long way from challenging again. But enough about Leeds, let’s get back to Friday’s game (that’s tongue in cheek before anyone gets upset).


The make-up of the two teams is interesting too. Ian Watson has built a very handy side at Salford, to the extent that their opponents on Friday have signed two of their players (Jackson Hastings and Jake Bibby) for next season. Meanwhile, Dan Sarginson will line up for Salford next season.

This will have little impact come Friday night. All players have not shown any dip in form since their respective moves were announced and I doubt they will even be thinking about next year on Friday. Personal pride will take over. Many players never get a chance in their careers to lift the Super League title. Even those that do never know when the next opportunity will come, if ever.

The game promises to be thrilling. Wigan have won 12 of their last 13 games, meanwhile Salford are on their best run of form in over 40 years and achieved their highest place finish in Super League history. Something has got to give on Friday.

Wigan, with their extensive play off experience and home advantage will be favourites. But Salford may never get a better opportunity that this to have a shot of a league title. Logically, you would fancy Wigan to win this game. Yet if Salford do win, their confidence will skyrocket further. They will feel as though nothing can stop them.

Salford will feel that, if they can go to Wigan and win, then why can they not go to St Helens the following week and win? And further to that, why can they not go and win the Grand Final? Perhaps this is getting ahead of yourself, but why not?

Sport is about dreaming. That dream may never come to fruition but if you don’t have hopes and dreams, then sport would be dull. Salford will turn to their mercurial playmaker Jackson Hastings for inspiration and if they win, it is likely that he will catch the eye. But credit in the dressing room would equally go to the likes of Mark Flanagan, Gil Dudson and Greg Burke. Without the contributions of the less eye-catching names, Salford would not be where they are.



So…on Friday night will we see the relentless Wigan machine continue their march to their sixth Grand Final in seven years or can Salford reward their small but incredibly loyal fanbase after years where they wouldn’t even dream of a season like this?

I can’t wait.

Squad News
Wigan squad: Joe Burgess, Liam Byrne, Tony Clubb, Liam Farrell (replaced Partington), Ben Flower, Bevan French, Oliver Gildart, Joe Greenwood, Chris Hankinson, Zak Hardaker, Willie Isa, Tommy Leuluai, Liam Marshall (replaces Smith), Romain Navarette, Sean O' Loughlin, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Morgan Smithies, George Williams

Salford squad: Evalds, Welham, Bibby, Mossop, Wood, Dudson (replaces Johnson), Jones, Griffin, Flanagan (replaces Lawton), Lussick, Walker, Burke, McCarthy (replaces Nakumbawai), Tomkins, Sio, Inu, Lannon, Lolohea, Hastings.

2019 Meetings
Sunday 24 March:            Salford 24-30 Wigan
Monday 22 April:              Salford 26-30 Wigan
Friday 28 June:                Wigan 28-12 Salford

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