Gil relishes special feeling at Salford

GIL Dudson believes Salford’s mid-season merry-go-round has galvanised Ian Watson’s band of brothers as they bid to reach Super League’s Grand Final.

At least five members of the side who face Castleford in tonight’s play-off eliminator will move club next season, with a host of the departures announced halfway through the campaign.

But while that kind of situation has derailed teams in the past, in-form prop Dudson – who is staying put – says it has had the opposite effect at Salford.

“When they started to get announced there was quite a bit of backlash, especially with people wearing other teams’ shirts,” said Dudson, above.

“But everyone is a paid professional here and I never saw it as a massive deal. If anything it galvanised us and brought us closer together, because we know this is our shot. Boys moving on at the end of the year is part of professional sport, but what we realise is that we’ve got the opportunity to do something special here.

“There’s been a feeling here all season that you don’t get very often.” Castleford coach Daryl Powell says his injury-hit side are underdogs tonight – but Dudson does not see that. He added: “Two years ago they were in the Grand Final and we were fighting relegation.

“Yes, we’ve finished third but in the grand scheme of things we were being tipped for relegation again at the start of the year.

“Cas can say what they want but they are a good team who are a real danger.”