Paupers vs Princes

What is the difference between Salford Red Devils and Warrington Wolves? Quite a lot actually. But if I was to pick one, it would be transfer activity.

When Salford have a talented player, then tend to soon leave the club to join a wealthier rival. Take Ben Murdoch-Masila for example. A devastating runner and impact sub, who was a mainstay of the Salford side. He moved to Warrington in 2018 and left a big hole to fill in Salford's pack.

By contrast, Kevin Brown is another example. He became surplus to requirements at Warrington as he approached his mid-30's and suffered a serious injury, replaced by Gareth Widdop. Kevin Brown then signed for Salford.

Those two players took part in yesterday's rain-soaked semi-final at St Helens, but it was Kevin Brown who was singing in the rain by the final whistle. In the next two weeks building up to the final, we will no doubt hear of many individual 'stories' and angles. Kevin Brown's is arguably the most interesting. A defeated Cup finalist in 2004, 2009 and 2016. He will now, at the age of 36, get the opportunity to win the first major trophy of his career.

Salford's side of misfits and cast-offs made the Grand Final against the odds in 2019, but in 2020, shorn of many of their stars from last season, the odds of them defeating Warrington in the semi final yesterday were even longer.

Those odds would have lengthened further when Tyrone McCarthy was needlessly sin-binned and Salford fell 8 points behind. But when opportunities presented, Salford were exceptionally clinical. Whether it was Kallum Watkins having the patience to ground a difficult ball following an Ashton error, a perfectly-timed leap by Krisnan Inu, James Greenwood hurling himself at a Brown grubber kick with a reckless disregard for his own wellbeing, or the winner, the ultimate opportunist effort by Joey Lussick, Salford made every moment count.

As correctly highlighted by the BBC, even the decision to kick for goal on 38 minutes to reduce the arrears from 8 to 6, was crucial. It is a decision that not many teams would have taken. Yet it was the correct decision from a team willing to play the long game. A team that trusted itself enough to know they could fight back.

To simply praise Salford's attack would be wrong. Their defence was brave and tenacious also. Warrington had lengthy spells of pressure in the second half, but Salford cracked just once. It must be pointed out that Warrington were wasteful and did have chances that were put to ground. But in wet-weather conditions, it is always the way that the side that takes their chances wins.

So in a battle of paupers vs princes, the paupers came out on top. Those paupers will be rewarded with a trip to the castle (Wembley Stadium) on 17 October, for their first Challenge Cup Final since 1969 and for a shot at their first Challenge Cup trophy since 1938-39.

The match will be played behind closed doors. This is incredibly sad. The majority of Salford fans will not have seen their team play at Wembley and they have been robbed of it this year. Personally, I do not see why Salford fans can cram into pubs and watch the match but cannot watch the game live, outdoors, at a reduced capacity. It may be futile, but I hope Salford's councillors and MP lobby the Government, and their fans lobby their MP, to point out this folly.

Despite the lack of fans, it would be even more of a travesty if Salford were denied the chance to play at the national stadium. In two weeks, the biggest stage of all will be the emptiest stage of all. But the floor will be Salford's. Will they get stage fright, or can they achieve something that their club has not achieved for the best part of a century? I cannot wait to find out.

Whilst you're here, do check out our other blog, reviewing how Leeds returned to Wembley:
https://thetryline.blogspot.com/2020/10/its-all-so-familiar.html