Super League: 7th (P27 W13 L14 F494 A512 PD-18 Pts26); Challenge Cup: Quarter-finals
THE HOPE
Salford enjoyed an exhilarating 2022 season, riding a wave that took them so close to Old Trafford in Paul Rowley’s first season in charge, all while playing an attractive brand of rugby. More of the same, asked supporters and neutrals alike.
THE REALITY
For a club constantly fighting against the odds, this was a year when things gradually unravelled on and off the field.
On it, the start had been so promising. At the beginning of June they were fourth in the table, on a run of eight wins in nine across all competitions, and looked every part a play-off team.
But when you have a small squad and rely on a handful of star performers to maximise the team’s potential, it takes a few small issues to knock everything off balance.
Injuries to Andy Ackers and Brodie Croft started a losing run and Salford couldn’t contain it until it grew to seven games. After that, three wins from the last six wasn’t quite enough to make the cut, a final-day defeat to Catalans sealing their fate.
Off the pitch, the launch of a community share scheme highlighted the desperate need for extra funding at a club with one of Super League’s smallest fanbases and no big backer.
And the sale of Tyler Dupree mid-season, plus Ackers and Croft after it, suggest Salford will remain a club struggling to make its way.
BEST PLAYERS
The form of Ryan Brierley certainly didn’t suffer from 2022 – if anything, he was even better in 2023, and certainly Salford’s best player.
Excelling since a switch to fullback several years ago, Brierley scored nine tries this year and was often their biggest attacking threat.
Another player enjoying a late-career resurgence after a positional switch is Kallum Watkins, formerly a world-class centre and now a decent backrower too.
Watkins was Salford’s sole representative in the Super League Dream Team after another consistent campaign.
And while he didn’t finish the season with Salford – instead winning all nine matches he played for Wigan to become a Super League winner – Tyler Dupree certainly stood out beforehand.
The skilful prop reached another level in his second season with the Red Devils and earned them a then club-record transfer fee.
IN QUOTES
“This year we’re celebrating 150 years of a club at the heart of its community. Now we’re growing that community, as well as placing it at the heart of the club. The game has changed. IMG are in the business and with that comes a forward-thinking approach to how we move forward. For years, whenever we’ve been close to something, we have had to sell our best players. This year we opted to change that. Now by doing this, it allows to maintain a competitive playing squad and gives us a real chance to win the biggest prizes in the game.” Salford managing director Paul King on the reasons behind launching their community share offer.
“From my perspective, I wasn’t going anywhere… I was happy to be staying. But they told me they’d accepted an offer. If I’m honest, it p***** me off, not because I was being sold… but because after everything I’ve been through and all the aggravation I took, they’ve sold me anyway.” Tyler Dupree on his sale to Wigan.
“Damn, this is devastating. This is the shit side of sport, not just losing players but losing best mates. I know how hard this was for both of them so I hope they go on to achieve great things at an unbelievable club and I hope our fans share the same sentiments to both of them.” Ryan Brierley’s reaction on social media to the sale of Brodie Croft and Andy Ackers to Leeds.
IN NUMBERS
200 penalties conceded during the Super League season, a full 45 more than the second-worst offenders.
8-year contract signed by Brodie Croft, of which he served eight months before being sold to Leeds.
45 errors by Joe Burgess, the most of any Super League player.
HIGHLIGHT
Salford’s play-off dream appeared to be alive again after winning a four-pointer with Warrington in the most dramatic circumstances in September.
The game went to golden-point after Marc Sneyd kicked a late penalty, following a try by Ben Hellewell and two by Brodie Croft, to make it 20-20.
Then, four minutes into added time, Tim Lafai sent Joe Burgess racing down the wing and Sam Stone was in support to complete a thrilling, long-range, match-clinching try.
LOWLIGHT
Salford’s seven-match winning run including a 42-0 defeat at Catalans, but that had nothing on losing 32-6 at bottom side Wakefield at the end of June.
Missing all of Ryan Brierley, Brodie Croft and Andy Ackers, the Red Devils were woeful, trailing from the third minute onwards and completely off the pace in what coach Paul Rowley called their “worst performance” of his tenure.
They were 32-0 down after less than an hour in front of a stunned away support, before Alex Gerrard scored their sole try.
PICTURE OF THE SEASON
An anguished Brodie Croft reacts to the final-day defeat to Catalans, which ended Salford’s play-off hopes (above).
