Re: Only us : Mon Oct 07, 2019 2:53 pm  

I don't buy this one man team stuff - aside from the fact that it's virtually impossible in RL for one man to win a game, Salford are way more rounded than just Hastings; Bibby, Jones, Inu and Evalds for example, would improve most teams in SL, with perhaps the exception of Saints.

I give them full credit - they've been through real adversity since Koukash did his level best to ruin them, and appear to have become stronger for it; with Ian Watson proving to be an exceptional manager of men, and tactics.

They'll be in the $4it next year of course, when most of the above named will indeed be improving other SL teams - but up to and including Saturday night, I'm a fan; I'd love to see them win the GF.

Re: Only us : Mon Oct 07, 2019 3:02 pm  

SaleSlim wrote:

I shouldn't bite but I will.

And thanks to all those well-wishers on here it's nice to read people appreciating such a sh1tty little club like Salford.

Hastings is a superstar, he really is. Along with the great Garry Jack he's the best player I've seen in 30 years of supporting the club. However.... to call Salford a one man team is disingenuous (will you say the same next season if Wigan get to/win the GF?). Our pack has been immense all year and rarely been battered. Dudson and Mossop have been outstanding along with Jones, McCarthy & at times Flanagan. George Griffin has put in some stellar end of season displays and shocked a lot of our fans as we didn't realise he had it in him.

L Tomkins and Lussick (who will be back in the NRL before long) have dovetailed superbly and both Lui & Tui have complemented Jacko in the halves and allowed him to do what he does best.

Throw in arguably SL's best full-back this season Evalds and some huge displays from Inu, Bibby, Welham & Sio and this has absolutely been a massive team effort to get us where we are. Every team needs some stardust and Jacko is just that but he'll be the first to acknowledge that his teammates have played a huge role in his own success.

well done for the season, good luck in the grand final, a fit, determined team with a very knowledgeable coach who adapts a game plan to play against each team not the same tactics over and over and over and over

Re: Only us : Mon Oct 07, 2019 4:40 pm  

What I don't get is why have all these stars bailed out?

Re: Only us : Mon Oct 07, 2019 5:06 pm  

Wollo-Wollo-Wollo-Wayoo wrote:

What I don't get is why have all these stars bailed out?

Don’t think even they were expecting to be in the grand final.

Re: Only us : Mon Oct 07, 2019 8:57 pm  

wakefieldwall wrote:

Don’t think even they were expecting to be in the grand final.

Well it seems like a lot on here aren't surprised.

Re: Only us : Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:01 pm  

Wollo-Wollo-Wollo-Wayoo wrote:

Well it seems like a lot on here aren't surprised.

I had them as my dark horses at the start of the season, but was thinking more in terms of 6-8th place instead of bottom 2 that everyone seemed to have them down for at the time.

Re: Only us : Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:36 pm  

Kettykat wrote:

Proved a point tonight that you don’t have to have a team brimming with big names and shed loads of money ,you need a team that play for each other and play with passion and pride .

and a nrl quality halfback

Re: Only us : Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:43 pm  

BOJ042 wrote:

and a nrl quality halfback

Yeh a redundant one !

Re: Only us : Tue Oct 08, 2019 3:36 pm  

Think it’s great what Salford have achieved this season and will definitely be shouting them home on Saturday! I see a lot of similarities between the two clubs, always have!

They’ve shown every team in the comp if you play as a team and arrive at the business end a fit and healthy team full of confidence anything is possible!

I also find the thoughts on Watson/Chester by our own fans quite comical...Watson with things go against him finished 11th last season but is a brilliant coach, best in the game yet Chester after two brilliant seasons (a bit like Watson this other than reaching a final) and a nightmare season to finish 9th and all of a sudden he’s no good.

I’d just offer a word of caution to Salford and Watson to remember this if things turn next season like they did for us...they’ve already lost their two dream team players...we’ve missed our three from last season for practically the whole season...they’ve also signed PP...let’s see how he goes too...

Re: Only us : Tue Oct 08, 2019 4:36 pm  

Yeah I'm under no illusions this is potentially a once in a lifetime achievement for a club like Salford and it's heartbreaking to see so many excellent players leave but unfortunately with our budget it's inevitable players will always move on. No-one could have foreseen where we'd end up this year although we showed enough early season to indicate we weren't going to be cellar dwellers. The problem is that clubs can talk to players early in the season and you're always gonna be tempted by doubling your wages if the big boys come calling.

Hastings/Bibby - Lure of playing for a big name club, lots more cash and for Jacko the chance to put himself in the shop window for an NRL gig.

Jones - Bigger club, lots more cash.

Tomkins - Apparently Leigh can offer him more cash which kinda shows where we're at financially!

Olpherts/Griffin - off to Cas. Griffin has been excellent recently but can be replaced and Olpherts has ability but is only ever a second away from a dropped bomb/handling error etc

For me the 2 big losses are Jacko & Jones - Pauli Pauli will give us plenty of x-factor in attack and Watto will definitely get the best out of him as he did on loan earlier this season. Kevin Brown will need to organise the team in Jacko's absence and let Tui (who obviously just didn't enjoy being at Leeds - who would? ) provide the magic. We've also got the likes of Rhys Williams & Luke Yates coming in from London who are Watto type players. Oh and not forgetting we're getting Dan Sarginson who is still young and an England international.

We should have an increased playing budget next year and Watto will use that to pad out the squad in case we pick up more injuries (we've been pretty lucky this year to be fair). We've also got the 2 Fev lads in to bolster numbers and by all accounts the #9 (who's name escapes me) looks like he could be a bit of a find.

We'll be fine, don't worry.