Tag: halifax rlfc

Preview | Salford Red Devils vs Toronto Wolfpack | Saturday 8th August

Posted on by Luke Wallworth

Ahead of this weekend’s huge Qualifiers clash with Toronto Wolfpack, we take a look at everything you need to know ahead of the game. 
Last Time Out
Last weekend the Red Devils earned their biggest victory of the season in front of almost 1000 travelling Salford fans. Ian Watson’s men racked up a huge 4-62 victory over Halifax which moved them two points clear atop The Qualifiers table.
Sam Wood opened the scoring for Halifax, but Salford would run in twelve unanswered tries on the way to a memorable victory. Derrell Olpherts crossed for his first hat-trick in Salford colours while Jackson Hastings and Junior Sa’u also notched doubles. Ed Chamberlain, Ben Nakubuwai, Kris Welham, Lama Tasi and Josh Wood were all also on the scoresheet.

As for Toronto, they overcame fellow Championship side London Broncos at Lamport Stadium moving them onto four points in The Qualifiers. The Wolfpack raced into a massive 32-0 lead thanks to tries from Blake Wallace, Gareth O’Brien, Chase Stanley, Josh McCrone and Mason Caton-Brown.
However, with 25 minutes remaining, London began a fightback which would see Rhys Williams, Alex Walker, Ben Evans and Matt Davis all score before the hooter, however they couldn’t quite earn a point.
Form
Salford Red Devils head into this game in their best form of the 2018 season having won their opening three Qualifiers fixtures and four consecutive games overall. Ian Watson’s side ended the regular season with a morale lifting victory over Leeds before beating fellow Super League sides Hull Kingston Rovers and Widnes Vikings in The Qualifiers.
Last weekend’s huge 4-62 victory over Halifax marked the first time the side have won four consecutive games since midway through the 2017 season.
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Toronto head into this weekend’s game on the back of a home victory over London Broncos but their form in recent weeks hasn’t been as consistent as throughout the rest of the 2018 season. The Wolfpack only lost one game in their opening 22 matches of this season but have since lost two of their last four in all competitions.
The Wolfpack ended the regular season with their first defeat on Canadian soil as Featherstone were victorious and it became back-to-back home losses for Toronto in their second Qualifiers outing as Hull Kingston Rovers edged them out at Lamport Stadium.
Head-to-Head
This weekend will see Niall Evalds go head-to-head in the fullback position against former teammate Gareth O’Brien who moved to Toronto from the Red Devils earlier in the season.
Evalds returned to the Red Devils squad last month following an eight-week lay-off with a broken leg and has fit straight back into the fold with the form he displayed earlier in the season. The fullback always offers a threat in attack and now with the likes of Rob Lui, Jackson Hastings and Joey Lussick opening defences up he simply has to be on their shoulder.


For Toronto, O’Brien has impressed since his arrival from Salford earlier in the season and will play a pivotal role if the Wolfpack are to gain Super League status. O’Brien has a dangerous running game pulling defenders in and allowing him to rack up try-assists. Of course, the former Warrington man also has a place in Qualifiers history thanks to his drop-goal which saved the Red Devils in 2016.
With two dangerous and clinical fullbacks on show it will be a case of whichever gets the most opportunities to punish their opponents and possibly win the game for their team.
Team News:
Salford Red Devils forward George Griffin is named in this week’s 19-man squad and could return to action for the first time since defeat at Warrington at the end of June. Lee Mossop could also be in line to return after missing out last weekend against Halifax.


Luke Burgess made an impressive return at the MBi Shay Stadium and retains his place in the Red Devils squad this weekend. However, Ben Nakubuwai will miss the game through a shoulder injury.
Squads:
Salford: Kris Welham, Junior Sa’u, Niall Evalds , Rob Lui, George Griffin, Josh Jones, Mark Flanagan, Lama Tasi, Ryan Lannon, Luke Burgess, Tyrone McCarthy, Josh Wood, Derrell Olpherts, Lee Mossop, Jake Bibby, Ed Chamberlain, Greg Burke, Jackson Hastings, Joey Lussick.
Toronto: Gary Wheeler, Josh McCrone, Jack Buchanan, Bob Beswick, Ashton Sims, Andrew Dixon, Adam Sidlow, Blake Wallace, Olsi Krasniqi, Richard Whiting, Nick Rawsthorne, Cory Paterson, Jacob Emmitt, Matty Russell, Gareth O’Brien, Darcy Lussick, Chase Stanley, Mason Caton-Brown.
Table Permutations
Salford are currently the only team to win all three of their Qualifiers fixtures meaning they currently sit two points above the chasing pack. It would take a Salford defeat and a big point overhaul from one of the four teams currently on four points to move the Red Devils from the top spot heading into Round Five.
Toronto occupy 3rd place heading into this weekend’s fixture and are level on points with Leeds Rhinos, Toulouse Olympique and Hull Kingston Rovers. The Wolfpack would need a win by 83 points to climb to top spot but they could pull away from the rest of the field if they were to better the results of Leeds, Toulouse or Hull Kingston Rovers.
 
Welcome the Wolfpack! 
Tickets for our next home game against Toronto Wolfpack on Saturday 8th September are available to purchase at the Club Ticket Office, over the phone on 0161 786 1570 or SAVE MONEY by buying online, just CLICK HERE.

Factfile | Salford Red Devils vs Toronto Wolfpack | Saturday 8th September

Posted on by Luke Wallworth

Ahead of Saturday’s massive Qualifiers clash between Salford Red Devils and Toronto Wolfpack we delve into some interesting facts behind the fixture. 
Super League vs Championship
While the teams are now competing in The Qualifiers, Salford have been in Super League throughout the 2018 season while Toronto are fighting to earn promotion from the Championship.
Salford have lost to a Championship team this season, however. The Red Devils suffered defeat at the hands of Leigh Centurions at the Leigh Sports Village in Round Five of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup. However, last week’s victory over Halifax got them back to winning ways against Championship opposition.


The Wolfpack have faced Super League opposition on three previous occasions but are yet to earn a victory. They fell to the Red Devils in last year’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup before Warrington Wolves dumped them out of this season’s competition. Most recently, they suffered a narrow Qualifiers defeat to Hull Kingston Rovers at Lamport Stadium.
Home vs Away 
Salford Red Devils’ home form has been fantastic since the start of June winning three of their last four games at the The Salford Stadium with a big victory over Leeds in between a double over Widnes Vikings.
This weekend, Ian Watson’s side will be looking to win three consecutive home games for the first time since May 2017 when the Red Devils beat Widnes Vikings, Hull Kingston Rovers and Catalans Dragons.
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Toronto Wolfpack will be travelling to England for the second time in this Qualifiers campaign following a Round One victory over Halifax RLFC. While a lot is made of the travel aspect of Toronto’s schedule they have actually won each of their last eight away games plus two games at a venue away from Lamport Stadium.
In fact, the Wolfpack have actually dropped more points at home than away throughout the 2018 season. Toronto drew against Barrow and lost to London on the road but are now unbeaten away from home since the beginning of March.
Try-scoring
Junior Sa’u has been in fine try-scoring form in recent weeks powering his way over for back-to-back doubles. Sa’u scored three tries in similar fashion against Widnes and Halifax before pulling off a fantastic catch to round off Salford’s scoring last week at the MBi Shay Stadium.
Both Rob Lui and Niall Evalds fantastic try-scoring runs stalled last weekend despite the Red Devils crossing for twelve scores at Halifax. Evalds has still crossed for four tries in his last four outings for Salford while Lui has scored three tries in last four outings. Jackson Hastings has also notched three tries in his opening four games in a Red Devils shirt.


The Wolfpack’s most frequent try-scorer in The Qualifiers may come as a surprise as Andrew Dixon has scored three tries in Toronto’s opening three games. They have had seven other try-scorers in The Qualifiers so far with Andy Ackers, Nick Rawsthorne, Blake Wallace, Gareth O’Brien, Josh McCrone and Mason Caton-Brown also going over.
 
Welcome the Wolfpack! 
Tickets for our next home game against Toronto Wolfpack on Saturday 8th September are available to purchase at the Club Ticket Office, over the phone on 0161 786 1570 or SAVE MONEY by buying online, just CLICK HERE.

Jackson Hastings | “We have to make sure we do our homework”

Posted on by Luke Wallworth

Salford Red Devils halfback Jackson Hastings appeared on the BBC’s Super League Show and spoke about his impact at the The Salford Stadium and the difficulty of the upcoming fixture against Toronto Wolfpack.
Hastings, sponsored by Advanced Steel and speaking on BBC’s Super League show, said: “The results we’ve had have been nothing short of amazing.
“I think I just wanted to bring a bit of control and leadership and also a bit of energy and enthusiasm in attack. Everything I do is to play quick and with a positive energy.
“The position we’ve been in as a Club and then finding ourselves in The Qualifiers you have to do everything with a positive mindset. You can’t go into games thinking I hope we win, or I hope this comes off you’ve got to be really positive in your approach.”
The Red Devils face Toronto Wolfpack on Saturday at the The Salford Stadium looking to make it four from four in The Qualifiers however Hastings knows how tough the game will be.
“This week’s game – apart from the first – will probably be our hardest test.
“Toronto are the Betfred Championship side who everyone thinks can really make the Betfred Super League and be competitive so if we’re off by an inch we’ll get done.
“We have to make sure we do our homework and be ready to go.”
You can watch what Jackson Hastings thought of all this weekend’s Betfred Super League and The Qualifiers fixtures by watching the show in full HERE.
 
Welcome the Wolfpack! 
Tickets for our next home game against Toronto Wolfpack on Saturday 8th September are available to purchase at the Club Ticket Office, over the phone on 0161 786 1570 or SAVE MONEY by buying online, just CLICK HERE.

Richard Marshall | “I don’t see them losing a game”

Posted on by Luke Wallworth

Following Salford’s huge 4-62 victory this past weekend Halifax boss Richard Marshall was full of praise for the Red Devils.
Marshall said: “That’s the best team that’s been to the Shay in a long time. We’ve not played a team as good as that this year.
“Our home form has been outstanding and for them to come and rack up 60 was very good for them.
“Jackson Hastings: Wow what a player he is. He was the orchestrator of our downfall. We knew he had some threats. We thought Robert Lui was good as well with Niall Evalds at the back.
“I don’t see them losing a game, they were white hot.”
Salford will be looking to make it four from four as they take on Toronto Wolfpack at the The Salford Stadium on Saturday 8th August, 3:15pm kick-off.
 
Welcome the Wolfpack! 
Tickets for our next home game against Toronto Wolfpack on Saturday 8th September are available to purchase at the Club Ticket Office, over the phone on 0161 786 1570 or SAVE MONEY by buying online, just CLICK HERE.

Lama Tasi | “We weathered the storm”

Posted on by Luke Wallworth

The Red Devils had eight different try-scorers at Halifax included Lama Tasi who powered over for his first of the season after the side battled through a tough opening spell.
Tasi, sponsored by The Salmon King, said: “We’re happy to get three from three.
“We didn’t start off the best but once we got into the groove of things we ran away with the game. We weathered the storm and everything else came on the back of that.
“We need to take that form into next week.”
Watch Lama Tasi’s full post-match interview below:

Ian Watson | “Our forwards laid the platform”

Posted on by Luke Wallworth

Head Coach Ian Watson accepts his backs will get the plaudits after Salford’s 4-62 mauling of Halifax but feels they were allowed to play due to the hard work of his forwards.
Watson said: “Our middles did really well today and set us on a platform.
“Halifax controlled our first few early sets but once our forwards got on top it allowed the likes of Jackson [Hastings], Rob [Lui] and Niall [Evalds] to play and link up.
“The first twenty minutes we were a little bit scratchy and Halifax came at us but I think the boys adapted well and got back to the processes.
“The boys had spoken a lot in the week about the attitude and discipline. I thought we were outstanding.”
Watch Ian Watson’s full press conference below:

Three Talking Points | Halifax RLFC 4-62 Salford Red Devils

Posted on by Luke Wallworth

A rampant twelve-try performance from the Red Devils against Halifax saw Salford go clear at the top of the Qualifiers table and here are three talking points.
Defensive effort
It was another resilient performance with Salford conceding just one try at the MBi Shay Stadium. The Red Devils currently have the strongest defence in The Qualifiers conceding just twenty points so far; thirty less than any other side.
Halifax scored first through Sam Wood, but Ian Watson’s men toughed it out for over seventy minutes afterwards without breaking in defence. The hosts put pressure on Salford’s line on numerous occasions as Scott Murrell tried to unlock the defence.
However, the Salford forwards held Halifax up short on a few occasions while the outside backs covered any threats out wide from the Fax dangermen.
The Qualifiers could very well come down to points difference this season and with Salford’s stern defence being on show for the first three rounds this puts the Red Devils in good stead for the upcoming weeks.
Ruthlessness  
Despite the Red Devils controlling the game for the full eighty minutes and heading into half-time with the game almost won we saw a ruthlessness from Ian Watson’s men that we haven’t seen for some time.
The likes of Rob Lui, Jackson Hastings, Joey Lussick, Josh Wood and Niall Evalds caused Halifax problems in attack throughout. Once Hastings scored the first try, Salford’s momentum just built throughout with a number of Red Devils ending up on the scoresheet.
Derrell Olpherts was the main beneficiary of this ruthlessness with Red Devils realising they could cause issues down the left-hand side and Olpherts crossed for a hat-trick. Salford’s attack was in full force until the final minute when Junior Sa’u scored with the last play.


The Red Devils have racked up more points than any other side so far in The Qualifiers and will be looking to take that attacking form into next week’s game against Toronto.
Travelling support
It wasn’t just the players who turned up at the MBi Shay Stadium as the Red Devils travelled in numbers with almost 1000 Salford fans making the trip over the Pennines.
The support was the largest away following since last year’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup semi-final and the constant stream of noise pushed the lads on to victory.
Thanks to everyone who made the trip.


 

Match Report | Halifax RLFC 4-62 Salford Red Devils

Posted on by Luke Wallworth

Salford made it three wins from three in The Qualifiers to open up a two-point from four other teams with a convincing 4-62 victory over Halifax at the MBi Shay Stadium.
Derrell Olpherts crossed for his first hat-trick in Salford colours while Jackson Hastings and Junior Sa’u both notched braces. Ed Chamberlain, Ben Nakubuwai, Kris Welham, Lama Tasi and Josh Wood were all also on the scoresheet. Sam Wood scored Halifax’s only try.
But it was the hosts who were quickest out of the blocks and opened the scoring early on. Heaton streaked away down the flank before finding Sam Wood in support to give Halifax an early lead.
However, the Red Devils soon found their feet and it was Hastings who levelled the scores as he dummied and ghosted his way through the defensive line. Hastings was central to Salford’s second as his high kick was knocked down by Welham before the ball found Chamberlain out wide who put Ian Watson’s men ahead.


Fellow Australian half Rob Lui settled into the game and began causing the Halifax defence issues and it wasn’t long until Olpherts crossed in similar fashion to Chamberlain before him. This time it was Josh Jones who rose highest before Olpherts grabbed his first of the game.
Nakubuwai would soon force his way through the Halifax defence under the posts as Salford strengthened their grip on the game.
With five minutes of the first half remaining the Red Devils showed no signs of letting up crossing for two quickfire tries. Hastings scooped up a loose ball when it had looked like the chance had passed finding Niall Evalds who in turn looped the ball wide to Olpherts to score his second of the game.
On the half-time hooter, Chamberlain broke down the opposite wing before throwing the ball inside to an onrushing Welham giving Salford a comfortable lead going into the break.
Half-time didn’t affect Ian Watson’s who scored inside the opening few minutes of the second half with Olpherts claiming his hat-trick. However, the hard work was done by mercurial halfback Hastings who broke from deep before finding the former League One winger.
Tasi was the next Red Devil to break the Halifax defence powering his way over for his first try of the 2018 season. Hastings again provided a try-assist as Sa’u crashed over from close-range before gliding through a big gap in the Fax defence to score himself.


Hastings and fellow halfback Lui were both taken from the field with twenty minutes remaining with one eye on next week’s game against Toronto. Youngster Wood stepped into the halves and went through to score shortly after.
It was down to Sa’u to wrap up a rampant Salford display as he plucked Evalds’ pass out of the air before stepping inside to score in the final minute.
Halifax: Moss, Heaton, Wood, Butler, Sharp; Murrell, Johnston; Fleming, Kaye, Baldwinson, Tangata, Grady, Grix.
Interchanges: Maher, Moore, Cooper, Fairbank.
Salford: Evalds, Olpherts, Sa’u, Welham, Chamberlain; Lui, Hastings; Tasi, Wood, Murray, Jones, McCarthy, Flanagan.
Interchanges: Burgess, Nakubuwai, Burke, Lussick.
Halifax Tries: Wood (9)
Salford Tries: Hastings (12, 65), Chamberlain (19), Olpherts (23, 36, 44), Nakubuwai (27), Welham (40), Tasi (49), Sa’u (54, 80), Wood (71). Salford Conversions: Chamberlain (20, 28, 37, 45, 50, 66, 73)
Man of the Match: Rob Lui.
Referee: Tom Grant.
Touch Judge: Chris Kendall.
Touch Judge: Andrew Sweet.
Attendance: 2555.

Niall Evalds | “We need to keep tabs on him”

Posted on by Luke Wallworth

Salford’s Niall Evalds will face his hometown side this weekend and the England Knights fullback has pointed to one man who the Red Devils need to keep quiet. 
Evalds, sponsored by The Dog and Partridge, said: “Scott Murrell is their main go-to man. He controls everything for Halifax and we need to keep tabs on him for sure.
“His kicking will slow the game down, he’s always trying to find touch and kill momentum and it’s going to be an arm-wrestle.
“Hopefully, we’ll start stong because we know if we go into the game with the wrong attitude or the failure to start quickly that they can turn us over.
“The fans will get behind them and they’re a tough side to beat at home. We’ve got to remain composed and not try to score on every play, sometimes you’ve got to grind games out and I think that’s something we’ve done well so far in The Qualifiers.
“Our completion rate has got to be high and we’ve got to force some repeat sets if we’re not scoring.
“We’ve worked hard in training all week and we’ll go there confident we can claim another win.”
 
Welcome the Wolfpack! 
Tickets for our next home game against Toronto Wolfpack on Saturday 8th September are available to purchase at the Club Ticket Office, over the phone on 0161 786 1570 or SAVE MONEY by buying online, just CLICK HERE.

Kris Welham | “We just need another two points this weekend”

Posted on by Luke Wallworth

Kris Welham was delighted to return to action a fortnight ago against Widnes Vikings and is now focused on getting another two points this weekend against Halifax RLFC.
The Red Devils have already earned two wins so far in The Qualifiers and the veteran feels Salford need to be aiming for an unbeaten campaign.
Welham, sponsored by Process Gas Services said: “With the team that we’ve got – we finished 4th in the Betfred Super League regular season last year – so there’s no reason we can’t try and win seven from seven.
“We’ve had our fair share of injuries throughout this season but we’ve come past that now and we’re confident we can win all seven games.
“We’ve got a good team and some experienced players and we just need to earn another two points this weekend.”
Watch Kris Welham’s full pre-match interview below:

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