With the end of the regular season a week ago, the Salford Red Devils come to the end of season split facing the challenges of the Qualifiers. For Head Coach, Ian Watson, as he takes a look ahead over the coming two months, this is a challenge he positively relishes, with the opportunities it also presents.
“Obviously we wanted to be back in the Super 8s this year, but it wasn’t to be on this occasion with our having been in something of a period of transition, both on and off the field.
“Now, though, we are really positive about the calibre of player we have available, and the start of the middle 8s marks something of a restart to our season.”
Two seasons ago, when we last featured in the Qualifiers, the players never really seemed to adjust to the competition at all, and that took its toll in the long run as the competition unfolded.
“The players who were here at that time had probably done well enough during the regular season to have been in the Super 8s, but owing to a points deduction found themselves in a position which they felt was undeserved, on their part. Then they might also have felt that they were too good to be in it, which is always fatal because that is what catches you out.
“London Broncos certainly made us pay when they came here and beat us, because our team had a mentality that they were too good for that competition. The defeat certainly woke us up and we suddenly had to start performing in the Batley game, and then the Million Pound Game.
“The players who are still with us now will know the importance of not underestimating any of the teams like London.”
It always seems to be quite evident that the Championship teams come into the tournament with a quite different level of enthusiasm for the contest, having worked all season to earn the right to be there, whilst the Super League clubs have been trying to avoid the same.
“There is also a little bit of the unknown with the Championship teams, because there isn’t the video footage of them the way there is of Super League sides. The fact that they have been desperate to achieve their place in there comes from their winning most of their games, whilst Super League teams have been losing the majority of theirs.
“For us this time, though, we are really excited about the challenge, unlike last time when there were a lot of nerves about it. We also understand fully what it is about and what to expect, and of course we have injured players coming back to swell the troops, which will also give the remainder of the team added confidence, not to mention competition for places.
“On top of that we have a couple of new boys coming in, and that will give everyone a massive lift, because it shows that the club is behind them all, and we are all going in the right direction.”
One look at the final Championship table will show a stark difference between the top and bottom halves, with Leigh in sixth position being an incredible sixteen points ahead of Batley in seventh, which would really seem to point to some easy and comfortable wins for the top sides, in over half of their fixtures, throughout the season. As a result, these teams will be relatively fresh for the rigours which lie ahead.
“There are virtually two leagues in the Championship, with the full-timers and experienced players at the top clubs, whilst for the part-timers at the lower clubs, who have been working all week, it is a big task for them to go up against these fulltime professionals.
“Halifax are an example of a club with good experienced professionals, some of whom have played Super League in the past. This goes a long way in the Championship for a club to have players of that quality and experience. They will know exactly how to handle the coming games.”
