Leigh v Salford Big Match Preview

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Waiting for the fixtures to be announced it was a knocking bet that Salford would travel to Leigh first up. Since Leigh’s departure from their famous Hilton Park ground Salford’s only success at the new ground came in a pre season match a number of years ago. 

Leigh’s squad for 2023 has seen lots of players arrive with quite a few big names too. The club have rebranded and will be the Leigh Leopards when the season kicks off. Many people have sneered at the Leopards thing and it might not be to everyone’s taste but you can’t knock them for trying to promote the sport in what is a real rugby league town. So many players come through the amateur scene in Leigh and have done over the years. I personally hope the Leigh Leopards have a successful season apart from when Salford are their opposition.

Leigh’s previous adventures in the Super League have all ended pretty briefly. The club lasted one season in 2005 before relegation and the same thing happened in 2017 and 2021. The club is steeped in Rugby League history with a memorable Challenge cup final victory over Leeds in 1971 and after a super season in 1981/82 Leigh won the First Division Championship. 

As I previously mentioned the Leopards have been very busy recruiting players for 2023 with Zak Hardacker, Gareth O’Brien, Ricky Leutele, Rob Mulhern, Tom Briscoe and Jack Hughes joining what was already a pretty experienced squad. 

Salford’s recruitment has been slightly more modest. The Red Devils have kept the spine of last seasons team with a handful of new players joining. Their have been no wholesale changes for Paul Rowley’s side which hopefully will help another successful campaign. Australian forward Sam Stone has arrived from Leigh along with Adam Sidlow. Andrew Dixon has rejoined Salford having last played for the club in 2014. 

Star half back Brodie Croft has signalled the club’s ambition signing a new contract and this reflects the good place Salford are currently in. 

Super League away record.

Leigh 2

Draws 0

Salford 2

2005 Leigh 6 Salford 32 Hilton Park.

2005 Leigh 14 Salford 20 Hilton Park.

2017 Leigh 25 Salford 0 Leigh Sports village.

2021 Leigh 32 Salford 22 Leigh Sports village.

They played for both.

Luke Adamson, Kevin Ashcroft, Simon Baldwin, Radney Bowker, David Bradbury, John Duffy, Jacob Emmitt, Matt Gardner, Matty Gee, Bobbie Goulding, Danny Halliwell, Harrison Hansen, Gareth Hock, Liam Hood, Peter Smethurst, Stuart Littler, Peter Alstead, Andrew Dixon, Nathan McAvoy, Dean McGilvary, Reni Maitua, Chris Morley, Stephen Nash, Rob Parker, Corey Paterson, John Pendlebury, Michael Platt, Gareth Price, Adam Sidlow, Craig Stapleton, Simon Svabic, John Taylor, Iain Thornley, Mike Wainwright, Krisnan Inu, Junior Sau, Ed Chamberlain, Ben Nakubuwai, Gareth O’Brien, Ian Watson and Mal Yates.

A match to remember  Thursday 20th March 2008.

Leigh 8 Salford 24.

This match wasn’t a Super League game but a league game in the national league as it was then. Shaun McRae and his Salford side chased promotion after a very disappointing 2007 season. 

It was Easter 2008 and this match was played on Thursday night. The pitch was hampered by the torrential rain which fell from minute one to eighty. Salford’s away following stood behind the posts at the scoreboard end of the ground which was an open terrace at Hilton Park. 

This was the opening League game of the season after many rounds of the Northern Rail Cup.

Salford had beaten Warrington Wizards 66-10 in their previous match in the Challenge Cup, Leigh had beaten Featherstone Lions 66-0.

This Leigh side had a fair few ex Salford players in their line up, Nathan Mcavoy, Ian Watson, Lee Marsh and Mike Wainwright all started and Anthony Stewart was on the bench.

Watson kicked Leigh into the lead with a penalty goal as the rain lashed down in the early stages. It wasn’t a night for flamboyant Rugby League, hard graft and set completion was the plan. Andy Ballard levelled the scores at 2-2 with a Salford penalty.

The games first try came three minutes into the second half a neat low kick from Richard Myler to set winger Paul White up to score. Soon after another pin point Myler kick provided a try for former Leigh favourite John Wilshire. Both tries were converted by Ballard to give Salford a commanding lead in the worsening weather.

Lee Marsh threw a nice dummy to score a try to reduce the deficit and Watson converted. 8-14.

Salford wrapped up victory with a try from Ballard then Craig Stapleton charged over against his former club. 

It’s a match that’s still talked about today by Salford supporters. The rain eventually stopped minutes after the final hooter. I think most people spent Good Friday sat in front of their gas fires trying to dry off and get warm! 

The teams that night:

Leigh, Maden, Kohe-Love, Mcavoy, Alstead, Watson, Marsh, Morrison, Smith, Hobson, Doran, McConnell, Rudd, Wainwright.

Subs, Stewart, Taylor, Hill, Roberts. 

Salford, Fitzpatrick, White, Gardner, Wilshire, Ballard, Ratchford, Myler, Nash, Alker, Stapleton, Brocklehurst, Sibbit, Turner.

Subs, Littler, Leuluai, Jewitt, Bannister. 

Attendance, 3,708.

Friday’s match.

Thinking ahead to Friday it’s going to be quite an atmosphere at kick off. Leigh are planning all sorts of entertainment pre-match to build everything up and a big crowd is expected. 

I am expecting Leigh to throw the kitchen sink at Salford in the early stages and come out all guns blazing. On the other hand though the Red Devils proved last season that they have plenty of fire power of their own and can score from anywhere on the pitch so the Leigh side can’t take that for granted. It’s a match that could be played at a frantic pace. Their are player connections on both sides so that will add a bit spice to the match.

Salford’s defence will be the key along with a good solid kicking game from Marc Sneyd this will take the sting out of Leigh. Goal line defence will surely get tested early doors and the Red Devils need to work hard in that department. 

King Vuniyayawa impressed me in the pre-season game at Wigan and if he can take the ball in at full tilt along with Jack Ormondroyd and Tyler Dupree that trio will be a real handful.

The atmosphere will be electric when the two sides come out and I can’t wait for Friday night.

Safe travels and enjoy the match.

Paul Whiteside. 

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos.