Super League is no stranger to an underdog story, but this is some chapter of history Salford are threatening to write. To call this squad assembled by Paul Rowley a bunch of misfits would perhaps be unfair, but if you pick it apart it is not difficult to see why so many felt they were more likely to be relegated than reach a major final in 2022.
Eight of the 17 that moved them to within 80 minutes of the Super League Grand Final have played in the Championship in recent years. Tim Lafai, their star centre, was working in a mine in Australia this time last year, with no club willing to take a risk on him. Even Marc Sneyd, the scrum-half who has been in multiple major finals, was allowed to leave Hull last year after they thought they could secure an upgrade on his services.
