CLOUD NENE
Mac’s double floors Giants
TWO-TRY Salford star Nene Macdonald ripped Huddersfield apart as Elliot Wallis saw red in farcical style.
Strapping centre Macdonald intercepted Jake Connor’s pass to race 80 metres for an eighth-minute opener.
When he ducked over for an easy second for 12-man Salford in the 47th minute, his side seemed to be cruising at 18-0.
It all got too much for Giants winger Wallis, who endured a mistake-ridden second half.
When he dropped an easy Connor ball to see a rare chance wasted just before the hour, Salford’s players gleefully rubbed it in.
Wallis took exception to Tim Lafai’s celebrations and they faced off briefly. So everyone in John Smith’s Stadium was stunned when referee Tom Grant brandished a red card for a head-butt.
Replays showed Wallis, 23, barely even tilted his head.
But it spurred Huddersfield on as they staged a thrilling late rally. After Red Devils’ Chris Atkin was sin-binned for a block in the 63rd minute, they ran in three tries in eight minutes at the death.
Winger Adam Swift raced in for his 16th try of the season and Tui Lolohea also crossed, Connor adding a conversion.
Jake Bibby added a third in the 79th minute, Connor improving, but Paul Rowley’s side held on for victory.
Salford moved joint-top of Super League – fifth, in essence, but you won’t hear their delighted fans mentioning that. Macdonald turns 30 in a week’s time but is arguably playing some of the best rugby of his career.
And England scrum-half Marc Sneyd, who this week signed a new deal with Salford, gave a masterclass in game management.
He slotted three goals, stretching his remarkable scoring record against Huddersfield to 16 successive games dating back to his days with Hull in 2019.
He also helped set up their second try, linking up in midfield in his own half before Kallum Watkins’ great handling set Macdonald clear again.
The marauding centre proved too strong for the flailing Huddersfield defence and Ethan Ryan arrived to finish off.
■ WAKEFIELD have signed England prop Mike McMeeken from Catalans for 2025 on a four-year deal.