Salford Red Devils play Leigh Centurions at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday looking for their fifth straight Super League win. Victory would make it Salford’s best ever run in the Super League era and would keep up the pressure on leaders Castleford at the top.ย Leigh are without a win in three, looking to get back on track in the top flight.
Last Time Out
Salford produced arguably the result of round eight with a 54-18 away victory at Hull FC. Ian Watson’s men ran in 10 tries including doubles from Greg Johnson and Craig Kopczak. The win was a massive statement of Salford’s intent this year on securing not only a spot in the Super Eights, but potentially climbing into the top four.
Leigh suffered a third straight defeat at the hands of Catalans in the previous round – and a second successive home loss. The Centurions were poor in the first 25 minutes and were 28-2 down after that spell, but fought back to reduce the deficit to 37-24 to the French side at full time.
Key Battle
Salford boss Watson has named an unchanged side to the team that defeated Hull FC last week – Johnson and Kopczak will be looking to add to their current tally of tries. The Red Devils also have half-backs in good form, Robert Lui and Todd Carney both went over in last weekend’s victory.
For Leigh, the away side had four different try-scorers in the defeat to Catalans in the last round, with Curtis Naughton going over. Naughton is replaced this weekend by coach Neil Jukes as Adam Higson returns from injury. The winger will be expected to make an impact in the key Easter period.
Prediction
Salford are on the march in Super League this year, and with Leigh on a three-game losing streak, the Red Devils could pose too much for their opponents.ย Salford by 20.
Squads
Salford Red Devils: Walne, Murdoch-Masila, Kopczak, O’Brien, Griffin, Johnson, Wood, Jones, Sa’u, J Carney, Welham, Tasi, Mossop, Tomkins, Flanagan, Dobson, Krasniqi, Lui, T Carney.
Leigh Centurions: Brown, Higson, Crooks, Dawson, Ridyard, Higham, Weston, Stewart, Hansen, Pelissier, Tickle, Vea, McNally, Hampshire, Reynolds, Green, Hopkins, Acton, Burr.
