First off, apologies for my recent absence from the Turkey. I've got the joys of fully refurbishing a house keeping me far to busy.

Anyway, onto last night and as the title says, congratulations Shaun McRae and Steve Simms. I stood there last night and remembered back to the days when Bradford use to come to the Willows and literally obliterate us, even recording a Super League record scoreline on us in the process. Now I am not naive enough to suggest the current Bradford team is anywhere near as good as the one 5 or so years ago but they are still packed full of quality individuals. Plus I would rather focus on the fact that this club has come a long way since those days. Granted we had a minor set back in relegation, but we were promoted once again at the first attempt (different circumstances I know, but we were still the best team outside Super League) and we are now making waves in Super League.

Last night Shaun Mc chose the perfect game plan to overturn a powerful Bradford outfit. Even though the first half was one of the most boring you will see, you could read the game like a book. Everyone time we got the ball we wanted to turn there big men around and make them run, chase and work. Marcus St Hilaire was out on his feet after 30 minutes and it wasnt a suprise that what followed in the second half did. We had softened them up through the middle and worn them down around the edges and in the second half the result was never in doubt. We looked fitter, stronger and the more talented team and in truth it should have been more. Massive credit to Shaun Mc and especially the players for sticking to the game plan.

Also when was the last time a Salford team went to Leeds, Huddersfield and Hull to pick up victories aswell as turning a Bradford team over at the Willows? Forget the poor the performances at the beginning of the season when it was obvious the team we just not upto pace with Super League football, but huge credit to Shaun Mc, Steve Simms, the coaching staff and the players for sticking at it and turning their season around. This season must have been the most difficult to start with after the Flordia incident, but everyone involved in the club have remained professional throughout and turned all those negatives into positives. Last night the atmosphere amoungst the players was more pleasing than the result, they were all ecstatic every team we crossed the white wash and there was plenty of back slapping. Great stuff to watch.

I've also got to praise the young lads who have been brought through our junior system in Stefan Ratchford and Luke Adamson. Both are special players who I hope continue to wear the Salford shirt throughout their careers. The likes of Alan Hunte, Scott Naylor, Karl Harrison and Shaun McRae (more so for actually using the lads rather than unknown Aussies) deserve the credit for that.

We should all now be going to Wigan next week fully confident of turning them over and putting our name in the hat for a Challenge Cup semi-final spot.

isnt st hillaire at oldham?

I went to the thunder vs oldham cup match at darlo and he defintely played for oldham that day.

Congrats on recent performances, you have won more games now than i thought you would win all season. Weell done all involved

I presume you meant Rikki Sheriffe? The latest journeyman brought in to "bolster" our backline.

Good read, Sheddy.

So you have become a DIY slave? You should ask KOTS for some advice

That being------go to fridge -----take out can -----pull ring pull --------pour---- drink --------AHhhhhhhhhh

you been reading my book on DIY



you forgot the trip to the Football next to B & Q

Sorry mate, I did mean Rikki Sheriffe. St Hilaire would have been knackered as well though.





His advice was "dont do it".

Great performance against the bulls, well done everyone involved from the coaching staff to the players who made it all possible.
Unfortunatley that not the end of the journey, we beat bradford but we have bigger fish to fry in the coming week and months ahead both on and off the field.

Its all about momentum and moving forward now, when the your careers are over and your old thats the time to look at what you've achieved, this team is young and hungry and imo are on the cusp of greatness but wont get there if they start to dream and wrong decitions get made like teams of the past.

You dont need to dream when you have got the ability to make it happen people, they are 1 win away from being put in the same bracket of the Gregory team 10 or so years ago, you have to match it to try to beat it, the coaching staff must know this, shaun you've took a lot of treatment regarding your style of coaching early in your salford career but your a winner my friend and when the chips are down and a bunny needs to be pulled out of a hat you have managed it.
Dont let the Anxiety that has crippled many a salford side down the years kill of another moment of glory.

As for the players to be the best you need to beat the best, wigan are the team underpressure not you, go out there and give us everything you have.

Good grief Rob, how many clichés can you cram into a post

LOL RW

A few



I imagine the players all crowed round the computer in the shop reading this stuff, motivation and mental strength is fast becoming a crutial area in sport imo, most sportmen and women are so fit there are no physical edge anymore, its all in the mind now, whats going on behind the eyes.

Been a massive problem at salford since i can every remember conceeding tries just before halftime and full time in games when the players have switched off.

The current crop of players mentally seem more switched on as a team which helps our style of play, as less mistakes = more positive actions = a better position to win a game when it needs to be won.

I dont know if Shaun hired a Psychologist but i think in the future they will become a important part of any coaching step up in any sport.

It's good to see him back to his best

That it is



I lost track of the actual post because I was distracted by the cliches