Jack Harbidge previews the Round Four clash between Salford Red Devils and Leigh Centurions at the AJ Bell Stadium….. This is what we have to look forward to.
Venue: AJ Bell Stadium
Kick-off: 18:00 BST
Last Five Meetings
11/05/2018 Leigh Centurions 22 – 10 Salford Red Devils (Challenge Cup)
21/07/2017 Leigh Centurions 25 – 0 Salford Red Devils (Super League)
21/05/2017 Leigh Centurions 22 – 36 Salford Red Devils (Super League)
14/04/2017 Salford Red Devils 12 – 6 Leigh Centurions (Super League)
13/08/2016 Leigh Centurions 32 – 26 Salford Red Devils (Super League)
Team Lists
Match Preview
The struggling newly promoted Leigh Centurions make the trip to the equally woeful Salford Red Devils for their Round Four clash, in which both teams will be looking to get off the mark for the season.
With both sides struggling for form and coming into Round Four off the back of 36-point loses, a match up against a side with similar issues couldn’t come at a better time for the pair that sit 11th and 12th in the standings respectively.
Leigh have slightly more to worry about, having not recorded a win so far this season, while Salford thrashed Widnes in the Challenge Cup. Having struggled against Catalans Dragons last time out, Salford make three changes to their 21-man squad and bring in Greg Burke, Krisnan Inu, and James Greenwood. Andy Ackers, Elijah Taylor, and Kallum Watkins make way for the trio, while stand out player back Dan Sarginson still remains unavailable.
Leigh, on the other hand, bring in the newly signed Anthony Gelling, after the New Zealand-born Cook Island international passed quarantine protocols after returning from a stint in New Zealand. Leigh will no doubt benefit from his top-class experience and we should see his impact on the side immediately. Fellow new signing, Nathan Peats got a game under his belt and will benefit from the extra game time with his new team-mates.
Both coaches were left hugely disappointed with their team’s efforts following huge defeats last time out and while Leigh have a plethora of starting players out, they will need to make the bigger improvements out of the two sides to be in with a chance of competing. The Centurions have now conceded 116 points in the league so far and while they have been able to score themselves, it is near impossible to win conceding over an average of 38 points per game.
Richard Marshall made his feelings about Salford’s performance last week and he will no doubt be seeking a massive improvement in effort from his side. If they can provide this uplift in effort, Salford certainly have enough quality to contain and outscore the depleted newly promoted Leigh side.
Prediction
Salford by 10.
