Grand Final Review #2: Victory proves one step beyond for Salford

The old adage is that ‘you don’t remember who finished second’. The 2019 Super League season is the exception to that rule. Not many rugby league fans will forget the story of Salford’s year for a long time.

The 150/1 outsiders at the start of the season defied the odds to reach the Grand Final. And despite the backing of a raucous following and the majority of the rugby league world outside of St Helens, the fairytale did not materialise.

The scoreline of 23-6 suggests that the game wasn’t competitive. And whilst St Helens were ultimately comfortable victors, that is not to say that Salford did not have their moments.

It was St Helens that started the better and found themselves 12-0 to the good. That scoreline, combined with the amount of defence that Salford had to do, you may have feared the worse. The Reds were on the ropes.

But by the 25^th minute mark, Salford roared back into the game, courtesy of an impressive offloading game. Jackson Hastings and Tui Lolohea were starting to have more of an influence, the latter having a try disallowed for obstruction. A warning shot had been fired across the Saints' bow.

Salford did get a deserved score before half time through Jake Bibby. It was a smart try too, with Salford going open side and then cutting back to the short side to catch St Helens out. It was St Helens who were rocking by half time. It was they who had an eye on the clock and looking for the half time hooter.

The second half started very evenly, and you got the impression that the first try of the second half was to be crucial. And so it proved. It was in fact the second half's only try.

It came through a wonderfully weighted Mark Percival kick and chase. There were 4 tries in total, and as it should be in a Grand Final, all of them came from brilliant pieces of skill to undo a firm defence.

By the 50^th minute, for the second time in the game, Salford found themselves with a 12-point deficit to overturn. No side in Super League Grand Final history has overturned a 12-point deficit in a second half. Wigan did overturn a 14-point deficit in 2013, but started their fightback at the end of the first half.

St Helens saw the game out and held Salford at an arm’s length for the remainder of the game. Salford were the first ‘new’ side in a Grand Final since Castleford in 2017. There was only 1-point difference in the scorelines (23-6 this year, 24-6 in 2017), but the performances of Salford and Castleford were chalk and cheese.

Salford did not freeze. They made St Helens work very hard for their victory and at times did cause them problems. They put up a huge fight, but it wasn’t enough to halt the charge of a brilliant St Helens.

It was not to be for the Salford dreamers. Whilst it cannot be argued that St Helens were not deserved champions, it also cannot be argued that this league would not benefit hugely from a new name inscribed on that trophy. Last night, it wasn’t to be.

But in the last four seasons, Salford, Warrington (twice) and Castleford have all competed at Old Trafford to try and become that ‘new’ name. It is certainly coming before too long. The more new teams we have at Old Trafford and the more sides seeking their maiden Grand Final victory, we may soon see a greater variety in our champions.

Castleford paved the way in 2017 and Salford followed in their footsteps in 2019, that being unfancied sides having a shot at glory. Maybe this is the start of a trend?

For Salford, the reality is that another shot at Old Trafford in years to come may prove an even harder task. They are losing a lot of their better players, cherry-picked by their financially stronger rivals. 

Ian Watson has made a habit in recent years of getting the most out of players where other coaches have only seen limitations and flaws. Watson in particular should be singled out for praise. He has turned Salford from a side that was seen as a bit of a basket case to one which now commands respect and fear.

Salford may not have taken that final step last night, but over the course of 2019, they have taken huge strides forward and have created memories for their fans that will never fade.