NRL Match Review & Judiciary Charges: 2024 Round 2
4 days ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
It took longer than required but Salford Red Devils have retained their place in Super League with a 19-18 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers at Lightstream in front of 6562 fans.
For 75 minutes of the contest, it looked like Salford were consigned to life in England's second division after injuries and Hull KR got on top of them thanks to a Terry Campese 40/20.
The Red Devils hung tough and two quick tries to Niall Evalds and Greg Johnson sent it to Golden Point. The besieged visitors who were in the Million Pound game due to an eight point salary cap deduction were back in the contest.
Gareth O'Brien put the icing on the cake, as in the first of the extra time he calmly potted a 45 metre drop goal and signalled raucous celebration from the visiting fans and players as they invaded the pitch to celebrate their Super League safety.
Hull KR will be wondering how they lost the game at all. They exploded out of the box with Adam Walker and Josh Mantellato tries to make it 10-nil after as many minutes.
They added a late penalty goal to Mantellato before the half-time whistle to edge the half 12-10. Salford kept themselves in the contest with former Tiger Ben Murdoch-Masila and Evalds touching down.
Most of the 6000 fans crammed into The Lightstream thought victory was secured after Rovers centre Thomas Minns was able to get hands to a bouncing ball and stretch the advantage to eight headed into the final ten minutes.
Red Devils continued to try their luck despite a reduced bench and found a way to keep themselves in Super League.
Owner Marwan Koukash was interviewed after and felt vindicated by the result after a horror season and reaffirmed his commitment to the Manchester side headed into 2017.
2016 Million Pound Game
Hull KR 18 Salford Red Devils 19
Venue: Lightstream Stadium
Crowd: 6562
Date: Sunday 2 October 2016 at 12:00am
Hull KR (18)
Tries: Adam Walker, Thomas Minns, Josh Mantellato
Goals: Josh Mantellato 3
Salford Red Devils (19)
Tries: Ben Murdoch Masila, Niall Evalds 2, Greg Johnson
Goals: Gareth O'Brien 1
Field Goals: Gareth O'Brien 1