Salford Red Devils 30-14 Castleford Tigers: Highlights, player ratings and talking points

Salford Red Devils took on Castleford Tigers at the AJ Bell Stadium tonight.

Salford were ahead 16-6 at half-time after a Joe Burgess double and one from Tim Lafai. Castleford actually opened the scoring through Ryan Hampshire.

The Tigers were dreadful in the second-half as Burgess registered a hat-trick to make it 30-14.

Highlights

Morgan Escare hiding behind the posts to fool two Castleford onrushers and charge downfield.

Joe Burgess sprinting down the wing for his two tries.

Jason Qareqare’s second try was a superb finish.

Talking points

1. Castleford awful

Big things had been predicted for Castleford tonight after a good run of results, but they were dire in defence and attack against Salford. The Tigers were far too predictable and too weak which enabled the Red Devils to stretch out their lead.

2. Difference in halfbacks

The difference was two halfbacks; Brodie Croft and Marc Sneyd were superb whilst Jake Trueman and Gareth O’Brien were fairly non-existent. Trueman is being heavily rumoured with a move to Hull FC, but he will have to perform a lot better going forward with Sneyd’s 20/40 and Trueman’s missed 20/40 summing up the two sides and the two halfbacks.

3. Salford rising

Salford are certainly rising with another great win against a play-off hopeful. Joe Burgess registered a hat-trick as Castleford were cut to absolute ribbons on the edges – particularly on Derrell Olpherts’ wing as Burgess ran rings around his opposite number.

Player ratings

Salford Red Devils

25 Morgan Escare – 7
2 Ken Sio – 7
28 Deon Cross – 7
4 Tim Lafai – 9
5 Joe Burgess – 9
6 Brodie Croft – 9
7 Marc Sneyd – 9
19 Jack Ormondroyd – 7
9 Andy Ackers – 9
8 Sitaleki Akauola – 7
17 Harvey Livett – 6
3 Kallum Watkins – 7
13 Elijah Taylor – 7
Substitutes
14 Danny Addy – 6
16 Ryan Lannon – 6
28 Amir Bourouh – 6
32 Tyler Dupree – 7

Castleford Tigers

26 Ryan Hampshire – 8
2 Derrell Olpherts – 3
4 Jake Mamo – 4
17 Mahe Fonua – 5
33 Jason Qareqare – 8
6 Jake Trueman – 5
31 Gareth O’Brien – 5
15 George Griffin – 4
9 Paul McShane – 6
22 Daniel Smith – 4
11 Kenny Edwards – 7
10 George Lawler – 7
13 Joe Westerman – 6
Substitutes
12 Adam Milner – 3
14 Nathan Massey – 5
24 Cheyse Blair – 4
25 Suaia Matagi – 5