Ex-Super League official slams “awful rule”

It was back to back wins for Salford Red Devils last night in a scrappy game against Castleford Tigers who are still on two wins to start the season as Andy Last hopes to nail down the job.

The Tigers needed a quick start against the fancied Red Devils and after a penalty from a Marc Sneyd high tackle, a lovely offload from Kenny Edwards created the opportunity for Greg Eden to finish in the corner.

Salford had the majority of the territory in the first half but couldn’t find a way over the try line. Brodie Croft made a lovely break but bumped into his own player. Joe Burgess dropped the line after a lovely ball wide with Niall Evalds applying pressure and Marc Sneyd was denied a try after a grubber kick after being judged to have knocked on.

Salford had struggled to show their brilliant attacking play but a superb jinking run from Kallum Watkins and an offload to Ryan Brierley set the fullback clear down the wing and he grubbered back inside for Brodie Croft to score.

However, it looked like the Tigers were heading into halftime with the lead when Greg Eden scampered into the corner however the touch judge noticed that he had stepped on the touchline.

At the start of the second half it looked like Cas had gifted Salford a try with a stray pass on their own line but unfortunately for the Red Devils Chris Atkin was seen to have knocked on.

Against his former club, Evalds thought he had his first try of the season but a full blooded tackle from Marc Sneyd meant that as Evalds went over the top he dropped the ball.

Shane Wright has been in brilliant attacking form in 2023 and he got his fourth try of the season as he hit a strong line and powered his way over.

After a superb break and offload from Bureta Faraimo, Castleford looked set to cross for an equaliser as Adam Milner kicked ahead for himself and collected but Ryan Brierley came up with a sensational tackle to deny him.

That one a scrappy game for the Red Devils. The fixture told us a lot about both sides but also highlighted a rule former Super League official Ian Smith detests.

He dislikes it when players trap the ball at the back of a scrum to catch the defence offside.

He took to Twitter to say:

“Awful rule, trapping the ball.

“Unless you’re going to kick at goal from the penalty I don’t see the advantage from it.”