The top seven are split by just six points as we pass the midway stage in the Super League regular season, with one of those sides guaranteed to miss out – maybe more, if teams such as Leeds and Hull FC produce a late-season run – when the dust settles in September.
So this could prove a vital afternoon for Wigan, who started the day level on points with seventh-placed Hull KR but ended it in third after this encouraging victory at another playoff rival in Salford.
Wigan’s coach, Matt Peet, is one of the leading proponents of the school of thought that the table will ultimately take care of itself, and needlessly focusing on it isn’t required. His point was proved here as his side produced an energetic and spirited performance to position themselves in the heart of battle for playoffs spots.
“When you’re playing such a strong team as Salford, two points was the priority,” Peet said. “But the way we did it was very professional and committed … it was a step in the right direction. I think any coach would tell you that they don’t concentrate on the league table but it’s exciting for everyone else.”
Salford have once again impressed against the odds this season, even if they fell short here. One of the competition’s lowest spenders, this was at least a positive afternoon off the field, with the highest crowd they have posted since moving to the Salford Stadium a decade ago underlining the progress they are making. But without the reigning Man of Steel, Brodie Croft, who was absent here with injury, the Red Devils are not quite as threatening a foe, and that was epitomised here.
There was no shortage of spirit; you can rarely accuse Salford of that. But there was a lack of guile when it mattered and Wigan held them at arm’s length. “Wigan have been in an arm-wrestle first, a situation where it matters who blinks first, and they came through it again,” Salford’s coach, Paul Rowley, said.
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Salford’s only try of the afternoon came through Ben Hellewell with eight minutes to go until the break, but by then Wigan had opened the scoring courtesy of Joe Shorrocks’ score after a tight and defensive-driven opening quarter. As the pre-match sunshine made way for a more familiar Manchester monsoon, it was the Warriors who took full advantage. They struck a telling blow a minute before the break as Liam Farrell finished a marvellous break from Jai Field.
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Field, like Croft for Salford, is a bonafide match-winner and the absence of the Red Devils’ linchpin was obvious. The loss of the full-back Ryan Brierley to a head injury just before the break was another setback and without that pairing Salford had no real attacking edge. Wigan capitalised in the second half to full effect.
It took them just six minutes after the restart to extend their lead as an expert set move directly from a scrum afforded Abbas Miski just enough room to touch down in the corner, with Harry Smith’s conversion opening up a two-score lead. Jake Wardle’s superb offload then paved the way for Farrell to claim his second on the hour mark and suddenly, Wigan led by 14.
This Salford side, who themselves remain in the top six picture and will do so until the end you suspect, are capable of comebacks against the best but without their key men here, that never seemed likely on this occasion. They competed until the final hooter but the greater moments of quality belonged to Wigan, underlined by Liam Marshall’s long-range breakaway try in the final moments to put the seal on a fine result for the Warriors.
