TRY GUY Johnson still cannot believe big moment
RANGI FACES BATTLE
The winger, 27, will forever be assured of his place in Red Devils folklore after helping them win last season’s Million Pound Game.
But Johnson – who scored the last-gasp try that took the game against Hull KR to golden-point extra-time – admits he still worries about what might have been.
He said: “I have nightmares about dropping the ball. I wake up knowing that if I’d dropped that ball that was my career over.”
If Johnson had not scored his try, Rovers would have stayed in the top flight and Salford would have been relegated, with all player contracts torn up.
Instead, his side lived on and get the chance to prove a point to today’s opponents Wakefield in a simmering grudge match.
Trinity are still seething at accusations that they only got into last season’s top eight by default.
The Red Devils – who had six points deducted for breaking the salary cap – believe Trinity’s place rightly belonged to them.
Both sides are determined to show their credentials this afternoon in the first head-to-head since last year’s dramas.
And Johnson believes Salford are in the mood to come out on top after DARYL POWELL plans to make Rangi Chase sweat over his future in the high-flying Castleford team.
The stand-off is being kept on by the club despite being dropped for disciplinary reasons last week.
But coach Powell is refusing to make it easy for the former England star to get back into the team.
He will miss today’s trip to Widnes and Powell admits it could be weeks before the Kiwi-born player is back in JULIE STOTT beating Warrington last weekend. He said: “We have been through a lot as a team and we’re all brothers together now and that is showing. “Warrington are one of the top squads in the competition this season but we managed the game very well. “Wakefield had a good win over St Helens last week and it’s going to be tough but we believe in ourselves.” The game brings Johnson up against close friend and former Salford team-mate Mason Caton-Brown. The winger was injured for Salford’s survival run-in last year and admits that it will be strange going up against players he has such a bond with. Caton-Brown, who scored twice on his Trinity debut against Saints, said: “I have never played against an old team before so it’s going to feel quite funny. “I was so glad when Salford stayed up even though I knew I was joining Wakefield. “They are playing really well so far this year and I think they will have a good year but we’re playing positively too. “It will be a good match.” JULIE STOTT favour. He said: “The last thing you want to do is take yourself out of the team as getting back in may be hard.”
Paul McShane excelled as Chase’s stand-in for the 66-10 thrashing of Leeds last weekend and injured Ben Roberts is also back in the frame. FIGHT ON HIS HANDS: Chase