Ahead of another massive Betfred Super League clash with Hull FC, we take a look at all the facts and stats behind the fixture.
Recent meetingsΒ
Salford Red Devils and Hull FC have been evenly matched over the last ten meetings between the sides sharing five wins apiece.
The Red Devils came out on top in the most recent meeting with a dominant 24-8 win over Hull in March at the The Salford Stadium. Salford also earned a convincing victory over FC in the same fixture last season running out 54-18 victors at the KCOM Stadium.
However, Hull returned the favour with a 10-34 win over Salford at the The Salford Stadium before beginning their 2018 Super 8s campaign with a 32-18 victory against the Red Devils in Hull.
Salford won three consecutive fixtures against Hull FC between 2014 and 2015 β their longest winning streak against the Black and Whites ever. A Rangi Chase drop-goal was the difference between the sides in the 2014 Ladbrokes Challenge Cup before the Red Devils won consecutive home fixtures against FC afterwards.
Try-Scoring
When it comes to crossing the whitewash against Hull FC in recent seasons halfback Rob Lui is the man for the Red Devils. Lui has scored tries in four of his last five meetings with the Black and Whites.
The βStar Manβ crossed earlier this season in the 24-8 victory at the The Salford Stadium and has also scored in each of his last two visits to the KCOM Stadium with the first coming in a ten-try triumph last season.
Marchβs meeting between the sides saw two of Salfordβs 2018 additions cross for their first tries in red. Ben Nakubuwai powered his way over from close-range to open his Salford account before Jack Littlejohn rounded off a quick break down the left-hand flank to get off the mark at the The Salford Stadium.
Hull FC scored just a solitary try in the last meeting between the clubs in March thanks to Dean Hadley however there are a couple of Hull players who enjoy playing against the Red Devils.
Halfback Albert Kelly β who didnβt feature in the last meeting between the teams β has crossed for three tries in his last two games against Salford. Carlos Tuimavave has scored three tries in his last three appearances versus the Red Devils grabbing a brace in last yearβs Super 8s clash.
2018 Betfred Super League Stats
Hull FCβs Fetuli Talanoa β who the Black and Whites will be without β is currently their top try-scorer this season (3rd in Betfred Super League) with 12 tries. Jake Bibby currently tops the ranks at Salford with seven tries. FCβs highest-scoring player named in the squad is fullback Jamie Shaul who β like Bibby β has scored seven times.
Logan Tomkins currently tops the ranks in terms of try-assists for the Red Devils with five. Albert Kelly is FCβs dangerman assisting nine of Hullβs tries in the 2018 Betfred Super League.
Former Red Devil Josh Griffin – who is also out with injury – is Hullβs leading metre-maker racking up 1823 metres so far this season. Salfordβs highest metre-maker is also a centre with Junior Saβu clocking 1386 metres this year.
Tag: Albert Kelly
Ben Murdoch-Masila is named in the 2017 Super League Dream Team
Salford Red Devils back-rower Ben Murdoch-Masila has been named in the 2017 Super League Dream Team.
The Tongan forward has crossed for 14 Super League tries this season and was the form forward in the league in a run which saw Salford win 12 out of 13 games on the run in all competitions.
Murdoch-Masila becomes the first Red Devil to appear in the Super League Dream Team since David Hodgson back in 2006.
Murdoch-Masila said: βIt was a massive surprise for me to be selected but I am delighted with being named in the team.
βThereβs some really good players been named in this side and to be amongst them means a lot to me.
βWeβve had a real good season this year particularly if you look back to where we were at last season. Of course, weβd have liked to have kicked on and pushed a little more in the Super 8s but weβre heading in the right direction.
βIβve just done my bit for the side throughout the season and scored a few tries. Now, Iβm looking forward to a bit off and spending some time with my family who have been supportive of me since I first arrived at Salford.β
Seven Super League clubs are represented in this yearβs team with League Leadersβ Shield winners Castleford Tigers (6) dominating the selection along with Hull FC (2), Huddersfield Giants (1), St Helens (1), Leeds Rhinos (1), Salford Red Devils (1) and Wigan Warriors (1).
The 2017 Dream Team features eight players making their debut, including Huddersfield Giantsβ Sebastine Ikahihifo, St Helensβ centre Mark Percival and Leeds Rhinos hooker Matt Parcell, who makes his debut in his first year in Super League.
Wigan Warriors and England Captain Sean OβLoughlin makes his sixth Dream Team appearance β his last appearance was in 2014.
All three players shortlisted for the prestigious Steve Prescott Man of Steel award: Albert Kelly, Zak Hardaker and Luke Gale are included.
Joining Hardaker and Gale from Castleford Tigers, who have the most representatives in the Dream Team, are centre Michael Shenton and debutants Greg Eden, Grant Millington and Mike McMeeken.
Ladbrokes Challenge Cup winners Hull FC have two representatives in the Dream Team β Albert Kelly, who features for the first time and Mahe Fonua, who appears for the second consecutive year.Β The Betfred Super League Dream Team is selected by a panel of the sportβs broadcasters and journalists in a secret ballot and represents the form team of the Betfred Super League season.
The 2017 Betfred Super League Dream Team is as follows:
- Zak Hardaker (Castleford Tigers) Dream Team appearances: 3 (2014, 2015, 2017)
- Greg Eden (Castleford Tigers) Dream Team appearances: 1 (2017)
- Michael Shenton (Castleford Tigers) Dream Team appearances: 3 (2014, 2015, 2017)
- Mark Percival (St Helens) Dream Team appearances: 1 (2017)
- Mahe Fonua (Hull FC) Dream Team appearances: 2 (2016, 2017)
- Albert Kelly (Hull FC) Dream Team appearances: 1 (2017)
- Luke Gale (Castleford Tigers) Dream Team appearances: 3 (2015, 2016, 2017)
- Grant Millington (Castleford Tigers) Dream Team appearances: 1 (2017)
- Matt Parcell (Leeds Rhinos) Dream Team appearances: 1 (2017)
- Sebastine Ikahihifo (Huddersfield Giants) Dream Team appearances: 1 (2017)
- Ben Murdoch-Masila (Salford Red Devils) Dream Team appearances: 1 (2017)
- Mike McMeeken (Castleford Tigers) Dream Team appearances: 1 (2017)
- Sean OβLoughlin (Wigan Warriors) Dream Team appearances: 6 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017)
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