Salford Red Devils Head Coach Ian Watson knows it will be a difficult task in Perpignan against Catalans Dragons but is looking to see some continued improvement from his team.
“They’ve got to win to secure their place in the top eight which they’ll be desperate to do this weekend with it being a home game.
“Ours is about making sure we build on certain parts of our game that we’re looking for going into the 8s.
“There’s been things we’ve been really pleased with over the last five weeks – apart from the Hull KR game after the first twenty minutes – but there’s little building blocks we’ve put in place that we know we need to get good before we go into the 8s.”
Watch Ian Watson’s full pre-match interview below:
Tag: Super 8s
Tickets | Half season tickets available on pro rata basis
We can confirm that half season tickets will still be available on a pro-rata basis ahead of our next home game against Widnes Vikings on Thursday 14th June.
You can purchase your half season ticket from the Club Ticket Office, over the phone on 0161 786 1570 or online here.
Your half season tickets will include each of our three remaining Betfred Super League games against Widnes, Castleford and Leeds and our 8s campaign which could lead to an extra game free of charge!
Support the lads as they look to push for a spot in the Super 8s for the second consecutive season!
The pro-rata prices are as follows:
West Stand
Adult: £124
Concession: £94
Junior: £30
South Stand
Adult: £103
Concession: £81
Junior: £30
VIP
Adult: £193
Concession: £141
Junior: £94
Flashback | Leeds Rhinos 20-30 Salford Red Devils | 13th April 2009
Salford have had a torrid time over the years at Headingley winning just once at Leeds in the summer era – so it wasn’t difficult to choose this weeks ‘flashback’.
It was The Red Devils first season back in the Super League following promotion via the licensing system and Shaun McRae’s side earned their third victory of the season, and their first away from home, against eventual 2009 League Leaders’ Shield winners and Super League winners Leeds Rhinos.
The visitors raced into an impressive 22-6 by the 50th minute. John Wilshere opened the scoring for Salford on the back of a clever grubber kick from Richie Myler. Mark Henry soon extended the lead as he touched down in the corner after some flowing hands down the line.
Jamie Jones Buchanan soon crossed for the Rhinos to narrow the arrears but a mistake from Ali Lauititi was pounced on by Myler who then went 70 metres to finish a magnificient solo effort.
Myler’s kicking game was causing issues for the Rhinos and Robbie Paul benefitted when one of Myler’s grubber kicks richocheted into the half-backs arms to score. Wilshere converted to give Salford a 22-6 lead.
But, Leeds wouldn’t go down without a fight as Keith Senior and Ryan Hall linked up well with the latter scoring. Wilshere attempted to slow down a Rhinos comeback with a long-range penalty goal but some good play from Kevin Sinfield and Jones-Buchanan allowed Senior to score before Jamie Peacock barrelled his way over with seven minutes remaining.
The Red Devils led by just four points heading into the closing stages but they managed to crush any hopes of a late Rhinos victory thanks to another breakaway try. A Leeds pass went to ground before being latched onto by Jordan Turner who went 60 metres to score. Wilshere added the extras to give Salford their first ever Super League victory over the Rhinos.
The teams that day – April 13th 2009
Salford: Wilshere, Henry, Littler, Turner, Ratchford; Smith, Myler; Cashmere, Alker, Stapleton, Adamson, Parker, Swain. Interchanges: Sibbit, Leuluai, Paul, Jewitt.
Leeds: Webb, Jones-Bishop, Ablett, Senior, Hall; McGuire, Burrow; Burgess, Diskin, Bailey, Jones-Buchanan, Kirke, Sinfield. Interchanges: Leuluai, Lauititi, Peacock, Buderus.
Ryan Lannon handed three-game ban
Salford Red Devils forward Ryan Lannon has been handed a three-match ban and a £300 fine after pleading guilty to a Grade D Striking in last Thursday’s defeat to St Helens.
Lannon collided with former Red Devil Theo Fages after the French half-back had kicked the ball leading James Child to send him from the field.
The incident came just moments after Alex Walmsley knocked out Jordan Walne – who didn’t return to the field – however Walmsley hasn’t been punished following the incident being put on report.
Lannon is now set to miss the opening three games of the 2018 season however forwards such as Lee Mossop, Lama Tasi and Mark Flanagan are expected to be fit for the beginning of next season.
Ian Watson – "I'm proud of the effort"
Salford Red Devils Ian Watson was ‘proud’ of his sides efforts against St Helens in the final game of the season after spending 45 minutes with twelve men.
Watson said: “I’m proud of our effort and I thought we had a really good dig – I thought in the opening exchanges we were absolutely outstanding.
“We’ve spoken over the past few weeks about getting our swagger back and we did with how we played moving the ball and being a footballing team. We did it against Huddersfield and last night in the first half particularly.
“We looked a really good team but overall I think today typified what we spoke about as a group that real grit how they backed each other up, how they worked for each other especially when we went down to 12 men.
“The grit in our defence was unbelievable we had to do about seven defensive goal-line shots to do and managed them really well. That typifies the spirit we’ve got in these players.
“We went down to 12, we didn’t panic and we worked really well together as one defensive line where you thought they’d be able to put more points on us – that’s a credit to our resilience.
Watson also spoke about the big decisions regarding Jordan Walne’s injury at the hands of Alex Walmsley and Ryan Lannon’s red card.
“If Liam Watts’ the other week is a sending off Alex Walmsley’s is probably a sending off but I don’t think he’s maliciously gone at it. I only got one glimpse of it on the big scree and I know he gets him flush because Jordan Walne couldn’t come back on and that made it more difficult for us with one less substitution.
“Ryan Lannon’s red is an example of a young kid getting frustrated and maybe if there had been a sin-bin on the back of the elbow maybe Lannon doesn’t do that but there was clear frustration there from a young lad. He’s done a dumb thing and he’ll learn from it and I know for a fact Lannon will be better from it.”
Salford Red Devils 4-30 St Helens
Salford fell to defeat in their final game of the 2017 season, despite a valiant effort with twelve men for 45 minutes, against a St Helens side who confirmed their place in the top four.
Ryan Lannon was sent from the field towards the end of the first half but the Red Devils dug deep and only trailed by eight points heading into the final twenty minutes. However, the extra man eventually paid dividend for St Helens who ran out 4-30 winners.
It was actually Salford who took the lead early on as a flowing move saw the ball shipped from left to right before full-back Niall Evalds hit the ball at pace and stepped his way over. However, Gareth O’Brien’s conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
While it was the Red Devils full-back who scored early on it was Saints’ full-back – and mid-season signing – Ben Barba created their first. Barba weaved his way around the Salford defence and Mark Percival finished in the corner but the centre couldn’t add the extras.
Manu Vatuvei went over in the corner with ten minutes of the half remaining but video referee Phil Bentham ruled it out as Vatuvei was adjudged to have knocked-on in the build-up. Unfortunately, for the Red Devils St Helens went down the other end and scored as Alex Walmsley barged his way over from close-range.
Moments late Walmsley looked to lead with the elbow which sent Jordan Walne off for a concussion check and forward couldn’t return to the field for the remainder of the game. However, James Child only put the incident on report. But, he did make the decision to send Lannon from the field a minute later for a late challenge on Theo Fages following the Frenchman’s kick.
After the interval, the Red Devils defended bravely keeping St Helens out for seven goal-line defensive sets and kept in touching distance until the final twenty minutes. Zeb Taia managed to break Salford’s resilience as he spun over the line. With ten minutes left Walmsley forced his way over for a second before Barba jinked his way over to seal St Helens’ place in the top four.
Salford: Evalds, Bibby, Welham, Sa’u, Vatuvei; Lui, O’Brien; Murray, Tomkins, Hauraki, Murdoch-Masila, Jones, McCarthy. Interchanges: Kopczak, Brining, Lannon, J. Walne.
Saints: Barba, Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Grace; Fages, Richardson; Douglas, Roby, Thompson, Taia, Knowles, Wilkin. Interchanges: Smith, Walmsley, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Peyroux.
Ian Watson – "We've got to go all out"
Salford Red Devils Head Coach Ian Watson knows that his side need to rectify their mistakes if they are to earn victory over St Helens this evening
Tonight marks the end of the 2017 season for the Red Devils but Watson says the players won’t hold back and are looking to end the season in style.
“We’ve got to go all out,” Watson said:
He added: “We said last week that when you face sides like Leeds you’re going to have to do it tough at some points – it’ll be the same tonight.
“It’s no secret that we’re a little bit busted in certain areas. We’ve had front-rowers in the back-row, back-rowers in the centres and centres on the wing in recent weeks.
“But, that happens to all teams what we’ve got to do tonight is crack on and put in a really good performance against Saints because it’s a long pre-season.
“All the boys know what went wrong last weekend and we need to rectify that this evening.
“Leeds took advantage of us on the back of quick play-the-balls and their speed around the ruck was too much.
“Saints will be the same with people like Alex Walmsley making the yards before James Roby is allowed to play and be just as quick around the ruck.
“He’ll look to jump from acting half-back so what we’ve got to is make sure we’re smarter this time around, watch for it and adapt to it.
“Of course, our results haven’t been up to our standards lately but we’re hoping we can end the season with a victory tonight and I hope as many fans as possible get down and cheer the boys on.”
Salford Red Devils vs St Helens – Preview
Tonight Ian Watson’s Salford Red Devils welcome the visit of St Helens in our final game of the 2017 season here is the preview for tonight’s Super 8s clash.
Form
It hasn’t been an easy ride for the Red Devils in their first ever Super 8s however they did win earn a comfortable 52-14 victory in their previous home outing against Huddersfield and Salford will be looking to react from last weekend’s defeat at Leeds by ending St Helens’ charge for a top four spot.
A win for Saints would confirm their position in the Super League semi-finals which would highlight the turnaround at the club since Justin Holbrook’s arrival in May. St Helens head into tonight’s game following back-to-back wins against Yorkshire sides Wakefield and Huddersfield.
Head-to-head
Tonight’s game could be decided on which half-back performs better between Robert Lui and Jonny Lomax. Both players are of similar stature and play a similar brand of rugby.
Lui has been a consistent performer for the Red Devils throughout 2017 and his creativity near the opponents line means he’s a danger every time he has ball in hand. Look out for Lui linking up with back-rower Ben Murdoch-Masila – they’re partnership has been lethal at times in 2017.
Lomax has been in terrific form for St Helens as of late scoring three tries in his last two games as well crossing in each of his last three meetings with Salford. Lomax is a versatile player who can play at full-back or in the halves but expect him to be in the playmaking role this evening due to the arrival of Ben Barba. Lomax will be looking to make it three try-scoring appearances on the run.
Meetings this season
The last time St Helens visited the The Salford Stadium back late March the Red Devils earned a 22-14 victory with Michael Dobson being the star of the show crossing for two tries and kicking four goals. Craig Kopczak also powered his way over with Lomax, Alex Walmsley and Ryan Morgan and scoring for St Helens.
Watson’s men were on course to make it two wins from two against St Helens in 2017 leading 24-8 with seven minutes remaining but late tries from James Roby, Regan Grace and Jonny Lomax and a 40-yard Matty Smith drop-goal sealed victory for St Helens. A Niall Evalds double with tries from Greg Johnson and Lui had given Salford a 16-point lead.
Fans can still purchase tickets for tonight’s game against St Helens up until kick-off from the Club Ticket Office. Season Tickets are valid for tonight’s game. Fans can also purchase tickets for tonight’s End of Season Awards Evening from the Club Ticket Office and it will take place in our 1873 suite post-match.
Salford Red Devils vs St Helens – Thursday 21st September 2017
This evening we host St Helens in our final game of the 2017 season and here are all the details you need to know ahead of tonight’s Super 8s clash.
Tickets
Tickets can still be purchased tonight by simply going to the Club Ticket Office at the side of Main Reception. There will be no increase in cost due to it being matchday.
Even though Under 6’s can enter for free they will need to collect a ticket from the Club Ticket Office. Season Tickets are valid for tonight’s game.
Red Devils fans will be situation in the West and South Stands while St Helens fans will occupy the East Stand. Turnstiles are set to open at 18:45.
End of Season Awards
Following tonight’s game we will host our End of Season Awards Evening in the 1873 suite. Fans can purchase tickets for this event from the Club Ticket Office prior to kick-off or following the game. Tickets will cost £5.
After the final whistle you will need to leave the The Salford Stadium and re-enter via the Main Reception where you will exchange your ticket for a wristband before going up to the 1873 suite.
If you already have a ticket for the 1873 suite you will be allowed to watch the End of Season Awards without paying the additional cost. The same also applies for anyone dining with us this evening.
There are several awards to be handed out including Coaches Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season and Supporters Player of the Season. It would be great if as many fans as possible come up following the game.
1873 Suite
Fans can upgrade to 1873 Suite tonight prior to kick-off and will just have to pay the difference between their ticket price and the £30 which it costs for a VIP ticket.
Of course, anyone who upgrades prior to kick-off gets to experience the 1873 suite before the game as well as the End of Season Awards afterwards.
All people who buy a ticket for our End of Season Awards will need to be wristband before they head up to the 1873 suite for our End of Season awards.
Platinum Suite
There will be entertainment in the Platinum Suite tonight as musician Becky Chamberlain will be performing. You can check out her website here.
Also, the Man of the Match Award will be presented for the Platinum suite and some of the non-playing players will be interviewed.
Pre-match, Half-time and Post-Match
Before kick-off tonight Salford Red Devils legend Jackie Brennan will present the ball to James Child. Brennan captained the Salford in their last ever visit to Wembley for the 1969 Challenge Cup final.
At half-time we will again have our kicking competition where one Red Devils fan will go head-to-head with a St Helens fan to see who is better with the boot. The Red Angels Dance Team will also be performing prior to kick-off and at half-time.
Following the final whistle players are likely to come and take pictures and speak to fans as per usual however with the game being broadcast on Sky Sports as well as our End of Season Awards evening taking place this may reduce the time players spend out on the field post-match.
Raging Bull
Our Raging Bull stand will be here prior to kick-off for you to purchase all your Red Devils gear. Remember last week we announced a 20% discount on all of our items as part of our ‘Super 8s Super Sale’ and this offer is still valid at tonight’s game.
We must stress there is limited stock and limited sizes available.
Foundation Activities
As always the Salford Red Devils Foundation will be in attendance at tonight’s game and the Astroturf beside the Fans Bar will be open with activities for children. The Red Devils Foundation Gazebo will also be set up for ‘Golden Tickets’ and more information on the Foundation’s work.
Food and Drink
The Fans Bar inside the marquee will be open from 6pm for fans to get drinks prior to kick-off. The food vans outside the Fans Bar will also be open at 6pm. Kiosks inside the ground will be open
The Red Devil
You can purchase today’s programme from our programme sellers who will be situated in and around the The Salford Stadium for £3.
#ForeverSalfordian
Last night the Club confirmed that we would maintain the ‘Salford Red Devils’ name but a new Club crest will be announced in the near future.
We started to use the hashtag #ForeverSalfordian on our social media platforms and we encourage all you Red Devils to use this and send us your pictures from the game with this hashtag.
For any more information please feel free to contact us on 0161 786 1590.
Factfile – Salford Red Devils vs St Helens
Ahead of our final game of the 2017 season here are all the facts before we host St Helens tomorrow night.
Head-to-head
The Red Devils failed to win a game against St Helens between June 2010 and June 2015 – a run of 11 games however Salford have managed to overcome Saints twice in their last four meetings.
Both of the Red Devils victories since 2016 have come at the The Salford Stadium with Ian Watson’s men earning a convincing 44-10 victory last season before edging out Saints 22-14 in March, also.
In nine games between September 2011 and June 2015 Salford scored a combined total of just 76 points against St Helens but have since managed to rack up a combined total of 110 points in their last four meetings; scoring 20 or more in each.
Against their former club
There are three Red Devils who have enjoyed stints with St Helens – Mark Flanagan, Josh Jones and Gareth O’Brien.
Flanagan, who is still sidelined, featured for Saints between 2012 and 2015 and played in their 2014 Super League Grand Final triumph. Jones was also on the field for St Helens’ 14-6 victory over Wigan and played almost 100 games for this week’s opponents before switching codes.
O’Brien spent a short spell on loan in 2013 from Warrington and kicked 25 goals in seven appearances for the Merseyside team.
Saints have two former Red Devils and both come in the halves. French half-back Theo Fages made the move to the Totally Wicked Stadium in 2016 from Salford while Matty Smith moved to the The Salford Stadium from Saints, following a loan spell, in 2011 and now finds himself back with St Helens after a four-year stint with Wigan Warriors.
Try-scorers
If there’s one Red Devil who enjoys playing against St Helens its full-back Niall Evalds who has notched an impressive seven tries in his last four appearances against them.
Evalds crossed for two in the 25-24 defeat at the Totally Wicked Stadium as well as scoring a hat-trick in the visit to St Helens last season. The last time Saints visited the AJ Bell Evalds was also on the scoresheet grabbing a brace.
However, Saints have their own full-back come half-back who enjoys coming up against the Red Devils in Jonny Lomax. Lomax, who has scored three in his last two outings, has also scored in each of his last three appearances against Salford.
Tickets are on sale for our final home game of the season against St Helens and can be purchased over the phone, at the Club Ticket Office or online here. Fans can also watch our end of season awards for an extra £5 in the 1873 suite post-game. Season Tickets are valid for all Super 8s home games.
