Round 1 - Salford v Wakefield preview

The last time we were both at the Salford City Stadium was an important moment in the genesis of our podcast. The idea wasn't born, but the seeds were sown.

Tom has already recalled memories of that trip, for his stag do last May. It was Mark's first experience of a Super League game as a neutral, stood in the away end, an unusual experience for many fans. More followed last year for us both and in our Challenge Cup Final journey, with Tom this time the neutral, the idea came together - to get a wider sense of Rugby League by taking in different experiences at different venues and occasions.

Here we are now, approaching our first 'feature game' of our first season. Where better to start than at a club with a new identity for 2014. A club grabbing positive headlines for the ambition they are showing and the new threat they will pose to the established order.

Last season

Both sides on view at the AJ Bell Stadium, as it's now known, have seen some significant changes in personnel in the off season, for opposite reasons. However, last season could still give us some clues about how this game may go and who will be the main men.

Really its hard to understand how Salford escaped Belle Vue with anything last season (but for four missed conversions it would have been a different story), and its clear how Wakefield took Salford apart in the return fixture. 

A couple of key numbers to pull out are the missed tackles and penalties - Salford gave themselves a lot of extra work to do in those two games. 

Something else of interest is the runs out of dummy half. Wakefield must have managed lots of fast play, though it wasn't just the hooker who was running out of dummy half with their back three getting involved plenty too. It's a tactic that clearly benefited them and winger Cockayne was a key performer in both games, as was full back Richie Mathers. 

Of course Cockayne has gone but the tactic can still be effective with the players they have, and Salford do have one of the oldest first team squads in Super League looking at their top 19/20 players. Quick and feisty play from the ruck could be a way to get at Salford. They were low in the league for marker tackles in 2013, and that with a younger side.

On the plus side for Salford, some of their new signings had strong games against Wakefield last term:

Six of those performances saw over 100m games from a variety of positions in matches with different outcomes. The attacking numbers Hock produced directly against the strength of the Wakefield team in captain Danny Kirmond are a positive to look for come Sunday for Salford.

Keys to the game

There are areas where Wakefield can attack Salford. Around the ruck is an area they got at last season. They should also have a good understanding of what Tim Smith will be looking to do with ball in hand. Potential defensive weakness in the halves is another factor the Wildcats will try to exploit.

However, you would have to fancy the Red Devils as favourites with their expensively assembled team in a much better state of preparation than the Wakefield side still uncertain over how much a role their new overseas signings can have, assuming they arrive this week. The bookies are making the Reds big odds on favourites.

Form

Certainly the preseason hasn't offered Wakefield great reason for optimism. After a hard fought draw on boxing day at Leeds, a close to full strength side were well beaten by Featherstone before a strong first half showing at Hunslet meant a big, yet scrappy, win rounded off the trial games.

Salford on the other hand had a camp in South Africa and just the two trial games. A win at Leigh was followed by a defeat at Warrington, although the fans were very buoyant despite the loss and it seems they are confident going into the season.

Other games in Round 1

13/02/2014 20:00 Warrington v St Helens *live on Sky Sports

14/02/2014 20:00 Hull FC v Catalan *live on Sky Sports

16/02/2014 15:00 Widnes v London
16/02/2014 15:00 Hull KR v Leeds
16/02/2014 15:00 Bradford v Castleford

Listen out for our predictions of Episode 4 of Super League Pod and send us yours!