Salford squash Huddersfield in playoffs to reach Super League semis

Salford Red Devils are 80 minutes away from a second appearance in the Super League Grand Final. The competition’s lowest spenders bucked the financial trend in 2019 to reach Old Trafford for the first time and Paul Rowley’s side are now just one win from doing the same again after a commanding victory at Huddersfield.

The Giants, coached by Ian Watson, the man who guided Salford to their maiden Grand Final three years ago, were outplayed by arguably the most entertaining side in the competition. Thanks largely to the brilliance of their stand-off, Brodie Croft, they led 16-0 by the midway point of the first half and never looked back.

Huddersfield, who finished third this season and were favourites here, were unable to pose any sort of credible threat until it was much too late, meaning Salford will face the reigning champions, St Helens, next Saturday for a place in the Grand Final. Wigan will host Leeds 24 hours earlier in the other semi-final.

Few would bet against Salford causing another upset given the way they performed here, though they will be without Croft after he suffered a head injury which, under concussion protocols, rules him out of the next match. A penalty from Marc Sneyd gave them an early 2-0 lead before Croft and Sneyd combined to send Joe Burgess over in the corner.

Sneyd converted and two minutes later he was on target again after Croft’s imperious break gave Kallum Watkins a simple finish. Sneyd added another penalty and Huddersfield, who were by now 16-0 behind, struggled to make any significant inroads for the remainder of the half.

Even when Croft didn’t return from his head assessment, Salford remained on top. Defensively they were superb, and with Huddersfield’s more methodical approach not