BACK INU BUSINESS Krisnan switched on
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KRISNAN INU started the season as a casualty of the financial meltdown at Widnes – now he’s 80 minutes away from the Grand Final.
The 32-year-old former New Zealand international had his Vikings contract ripped up when they were plunged into administration in February.
Weeks of uncertainty followed before he signed for a Salford side expected to be closer to the bottom than the top.
But with Inu playing a key role on the wing, the Red Devils finished third and are now one win away from Old Trafford.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s semi-final showdown with Wigan, Inu said: “It’s been a rollercoaster. I did pre-season at Widnes and was preparing for the year ahead, then all of a sudden I was let go.
“You don’t think these things can happen to you. When it does it’s a wake-up call to not have that security, not know where you’re going to be or what you’re doing.
“I had to pick myself up, keep training and hope somebody would have me. Being one game from a Grand Final was the last thing on my mind at the time.
“I just wanted to get on the field and continue playing, I wasn’t thinking about play-offs. But I knew not too long after I arrived at Salford that this team could do something special.”
The Red Devils return to the DW Stadium for the second time in two weeks, having been edged out 18-12 a fortnight ago.
Inu says they can take plenty of confidence from that display – after admitting that gifting Wigan one try with his own handling error was a key reason for the defeat.
He added: “We only learn from our mistakes, and I can say my mistakes because that’s what gave them the win in that last game.
“I was tough on myself at the time but I couldn’t let my emotions get the better of me on the field or it would have ruined the rest of my game.
“As a senior player we can take a lot out of the last game but this is a new one and both teams have a lot to gain in making the Grand Final. This is exactly where every player wants to be at this time of year.
“It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come often and we want to take it with both hands.”