Salford Red Devils faced top of the table Catalans Dragons on Saturday evening in Perpignan and it was total domination for the Dragons who ran out as 42-0 winners to cement their lead atop Super League, with the match being a special one for former Wigan Warriors star and ex-England captain Sam Tomkins who surpassed 1,500 career points.
The result saw Catalans stretch to a four point lead and also massively boosted their points difference totals compared to the chasing pack as they chase their second ever League Leaders Shield.
As for Salford this was their fifth loss in a row and one that makes their playoff chances that little bit slimmer with Paul Rowley’s men now two points removed from the top six, and with a considerably worse points difference than Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos who sit either side of them.
The heavy loss in Perpignan looked like a game where the Red Devils would compete in as they stayed level until just before the 20 minute mark when Wigan-bound Adam Keighran collected a grubber kick to score, before the Australian did the same on the half hour mark.
A further two tries came before the half to stretch the game to 22-0 and despite Paul Rowley’s best efforts to rouse his team, which strangely included handing out his half-time team talk on the field, there wasn’t a reaction from the Red Devils.
Four more tries followed in the second half with Tom Johnstone bagging his second and Sam Tomkins scoring the last which took him past the career 1,500 point mark to round the game of 42-0.
Understandably the manner of the defeat has led to questions about Salford and how what looked like being a promising season is petering out with their current form.
There’s also been questions asked about the sale of star forward Tyler Dupree who left the club for rivals Wigan just months after signing a three-year contract extension, and that’s led to plenty of fan reaction on social media.
Where is all this money going wow answers needed
— karl stott (@karlstott) July 29, 2023
One quite udnerstandably asked where the money was going, with Dupree bringing in a transfer fee as well as a player swap in Brad Singleton, but also given Salford raised over £300,000 in their efforts to become community owned just months ago.
https://twitter.com/EnglandIsGone/status/1685388426319671296?s=20
Another suggested that the playoff hopes of 2023 were gone, although was more accepting of the huge scoreline than some others.
https://twitter.com/jimbot1992/status/1685361576084226048?s=20
Such as this user who was far from impressed.
Shambles of a week from the top down for me, utter shambles…rugby department sold short this week from people above (plural not singular) anything that effects the teams has to be run by the rugby department! So much good work being undone very quickly! https://t.co/QySshLwvMO
— stefan hannah (@stef12334) July 29, 2023
Another suggested that the team’s administration and higher ups had to share some blame, not just Rowley and his players.
Proudest moment in my career being able to captain the boys tonight. Horrific circumstances and awful result but I will defend these boys and staff to the hilt after what we’ve been through. I’ve said this before but wow we have the best fans, it’s unbelievable 👹❤️
— Ryan Brierley (@RyanBrierley) July 29, 2023
Last night’s captain Ryan Brierley also took to social media referencing again what the team had “been through”.
Half-time team talk on the pitch for Paul Rowley, somebody must've turned the heat up in the changing rooms…
❤️💛🐉👹 pic.twitter.com/Y9YUbVOXkK— Catalan Media 🇨🇵 (@catalanmedia) July 29, 2023
And of course there was this team talk that may well go down in rugby league folklore.
