CHANCE OF TOP FOUR VANISHES AS THE RED DEVILS FINALLY FIND WINNING FORM
TONY SMITH will leave Warrington Wolves at the end of the season by mutual consent, the club have announced.
The former Giants coach had been head coach at the Halliwell Jones Stadium for nine years, winning the Challenge Cup three times, claiming the League Leaders Shield twice and reaching three Grand Finals.
Smith’s impending departure arrives after the Wolves secured their Super League status for next season with a hard-fought 32-30 home win over Leigh.
“I’ve really enjoyed my nine years at the club and feel that it’s now in the best interests of all for us to go in different directions,” said Smith.
Hull KR boss Tim Sheens will press ahead with his recruitment plans after guiding the club back to Super League at the first attempt.
The 66-year-old former Australia national coach took over the Robins following their relegation to the Championship but a tense 12-6 victory over Widnes in their latest Super 8s fixture ensured their stay in the second tier was as brief as possible. ■■It is mission accomplished for Toronto Wolfpack who secured promotion to the Championship at the first attempt to move a step closer to Super League.
The Canadian newcomers maintained their 100% home record in League 1, the third tier of the English domestic game, by defeating second-placed Barrow 26-2 in front of a season-best crowd of 7,972 at the Lamport Stadium. HUDDERSFIELD Giants suffered their worst defeat of the season as they were embarrassed 52-14 by a Salford Red Devils side that had lost 10 of their previous 11 matches in Super League.
Salford hadn’t won a game since they beat the Giants at the same venue back in July, but they had this one won by half-time when they were 30-4 up.
Maun Vatuvei and Kris Welham scored two apiece for the Red Devils while all Huddersfield could muster in reply were tries from Jermaine McGillvary, Oliver Roberts and Ryan Hinchcliffe.
It was a dismal showing from the Giants, who had finished the season so well with eight wins in their last 12 outings coming into the game.
Without injured captain Leroy Cudjoe, Alex Mellor moved to the centres while Dale Ferguson was restored to the second row after missing last week’s defeat against Castleford Tigers.
Salford had lost 10 of their last 11 Super League games but came into the game with an extremely remote chance of a top four finish.
Boss Ian Watson switched fullback Gareth O’Brien to the halfbacks in place of Todd Carney while brothers Adam and Jordan Walne were named on the bench.
In front of just 1,405 fans – the lowest crowd in Super League this season – Huddersfield suffered the worst possible start and were 8-0 down inside just six minutes.
O’Brien kicked a third-minute penalty after Huddersfield were guilty of not playing the ball correctly and, moments later, a Robert Lui bomb was spilled allowing Kris Welham an easy opportunity to touch down. O’Brien again kicked the goal.
Giants winger Gene Ormsby blew a golden opportunity to get his team off the mark when he opted for an acrobatic finish at the corner with the tryline at his mercy and was knocked into touch. A more conventional dive for the line and the former Warrington man would surely have scored.
That missed opportunity took on added significance as Salford scored their second try in the 13th minute.
Tyrone McCarthy caught the Huddersfield defence off guard with a lunge for the line from dummy half and O’Brien’s conversion made it 14-0 to Salford.
Things got even worse for the Giants when Salford scored a third try 13 minutes before half-time.
Winger Manu Vatuvei proved unstoppable from close range and he was able to ground the ball despite the attentions of three Giants defenders.
O’Brien was off target with the conversion but he wouldn’t have long to wait for another crack at goal as Welham scored his second