A sensational season by Salford Red Devils who came within a whisker of winning the Super League title.
Super League Record
Wins: 17
Losses: 12
Competition Points: 34
Super League: Runner Up
Challenge Cup: Round 6
Salford Red Devils Player of the Year: George Griffin
What was good about their season?
Pretty much everything. Ian Watson’s charges enjoyed a spectacular 2019 campaign and surprised everyone with their quality and consistency throughout the season.
That included winning 11 of their last 12 domestic fixtures, prior to the Grand Final, and fully deserved to play in the Old Trafford showpiece having last claimed the top-flight title back in 1975-76.
The emergence of Ian Watson, as one of Super League’s top young coaches, is another plus point as he looks to build a side capable of competing towards the top end of the table on a more regular basis.
Despite losing key player ahead of the 2020 campaign, Watson got Salford playing some stunning rugby at times last season and got the best out of each and every player in his squad.
What was not so good about their season?
The only negative aspect of Salford’s season is whether they will become a victim of their own success in 2020.
They’ve already lost key players such as Jackson Hastings, Jake Bibby, Josh Jones and George Griffin to their Super League rivals, with all four excelling in a Red Devils jersey in 2019.
It will also be difficult to top their achievements this term, having been 150-1 to win the competition at the start of the season, and will need to keep their aims and ambitions realistic to continue making progress.
Who was their best player in 2019?
Jackson Hastings wasn’t just Salford’s best player in 2019, he was Super League’s best player in 2019.
The 23-year-old may be on his way to Wigan Warriors next term, but boy did he give the Salford Red Devils fans something to remember him by.
The 2019 Steve Prescott Man of Steel winner will forever have cult hero status at the AJ Bell Stadium having helped guide the club to their first ever Super League Grand Final.
The half-back contributed a mammoth 36 try assists some 14 more than closest challenger Lachlan Coote as well as making more carries, 563, than any other player in the competition.
