GOLDEN BOOT

Drop goal jackpot for Reds.. a kick in teeth for KR

GARETH O’BRIEN slotted his incredible Million Pound point to save Salford’s Super League lives – and then slammed the system that created the drama.

The Red Devils full-back recovered from missing a last-second touchline conversion to kick the drop goal that sealed a golden point in extra time.

It sparked scenes of wild jubilation and then ugly fighting between supporters on the pitch that will be investigated this week.

RFL chief executive, Nigel Wood said: “We will conduct a full investigation into these incidents and will work with the police and clubs involved to ensure anyone found to have acted violently is dealt with appropriately and also banned with immediate effect.”

When the situation eventually calmed down, O’Brien admitted to mixed feelings despite one of the most remarkable finishes to a season imaginable.

He s ai d: “That’s the best drop kick I’ve struck in my life without a doubt.

“Us boys are happy with the result but I can’t help but feel for the Hull KR boys.

“There’s a real flaw in the system and personally I don’t agree with it. It was our jobs against theirs and neither team wanted to lose.We respect these boys and play against them two or three times a year.

“I’m happy we got over the line but something needs to be done with the system.”

Red Devils chairman Marwan Koukash then called for the RFL to provide a parachute payment for relegated Rovers, who must now rebuild in the Championship next year. Koukash said: “It’s not huge sums of money, and as one of t he owners of Super League clubs for next year, I’d take less in our distribution in order to offer Hull KR more to keep their boys. “It’s a great game, people will talk about Gaz O’Brien and Salford because they won the game. “But they contributed quite a lot and they don’t deserve to lose their jobs. “They deserve to have a crack in the Championship and to keep their players, and the only way that will happen is with a parachute payment. “We were dead and buried with three or four minutes to go. Everybody assumed that we were down, and to come back the way we did was unbelievable.”

Rovers had looked in compete control with just over two minutes remaining as tries to Adam Walker, Josh Mantellato and Thomas Mimms saw them take a seemingly commanding lead 18-10.

But Salford conjured late tries to Niall Evalds and Greg Johnson, the second after the hooter had sounded, to set up the golden point drama.

Emotion

Rovers hooker Shaun Lunt put a brave face on the defeat and said: “There’s a lot of emotion in there and there’s no positives to take.

“We have just got to stick together as a team and try to move forward.

“The system is what it is – I have not got a clue what happens now, we’ll have to see in the next few days.”