Salford City Reds 34 Wakefield Trinity 42: Smith has Leeds in Trinity’s sights in play-offs

You presumed he meant Super League but there would be no complaints if he had actually implied the world.

Wakefield already knew before kick-off on Saturday evening that they had secured eighth spot and, importantly, that final play-off berth given rivals Bradford Bulls’ defeat in Perpignan earlier that afternoon.

Yet, bar the conceding of three late tries which took the gloss off here somewhat, they still went out to deliver a commanding performance against hapless Salford with the brilliant Australian half-back dictating so effortlessly and continuously delving into his box of tricks.

It bodes well and marked the first time in any season that Trinity had strung together seven consecutive Super League wins.

However, simply reaching the play-offs, after being written off by many as wooden spoon potential, is not enough for the West Yorkshire club.

They take on defending champions Leeds Rhinos, consummate veterans of such occasions, in an elimination tie at Headingley Carnegie this coming Saturday night and have no intention of being cannon fodder.

Many sides before have crept into the eight and then fallen spectacularly at the first hurdle, sometimes jaded from the long battle to get there, sometimes simply just not good enough to take that next required step up in intensity.

But Wakefield have shown in this incredible late surge that they have the potential to cause a stir and enter as Super League’s form team.

They will also be encouraged by their 38-18 win over Leeds in July and a 44-40 loss at Headingley not long before.

Australian Smith, who arrived from Cronulla Sharks last winter as one of 17 incomers, said: “We knew we had a a quality side here and it was just going to take time with so many new faces.

“It’s good for the club now – where we’ve come from to get to where we are – and there’s a bit of a buzz around the joint.

“We beat Leeds last time but they had a few out and obviously they’re full strength now and the defending champs.

“But we don’t want to just go out there and make up the numbers. We want to play a bit of footy,” he said.

“We always had belief that we could play well and I suppose we’re doing that now.

“Play-off footy is always different but Leeds will know they are playing a team.”

Salford, who finished the season with a seventh straight loss, will pay testament to that.

They had no answer for Wakefield’s combination of power up front, where prop Andy Raleigh was outstanding showing form which earned him both the players’ and coaches’ player of the year awards at their presentation dinner last night, and the dash and flair of Smith behind.

They were quickly 18-0 down after Paul Sykes put Frankie Mariano storming over before Smith’s exaggerated sidestep and inside ball delivered a score for Raleigh.

Centre Dean Collis surged over for another out wide before Salford replied through Danny Williams and ex-Trinity player Sean Gleeson, Daniel Holdsworth converting twice.

However, on the stroke of half-time, Smith produced another magic play.

With all the Salford defence expecting a kick, the 27-year-old arrowed a long, flat pass to Paul Johnson who, from a standing start 15m out from the posts, suddenly had just enough space to surge through.

The ploy Smith used to set up Ben Cockayne’s 100th career try at the start of the second period – darting blind behind the ruck at the last second before firing a pass out to the winger – is as old as the game itself but it needs perfect timing and execution.

Fortunately, the scrum-half has both attributes in abundance.

He had enacted the same move to help win a tight game at Hull KR three weeks earlier and watching him take such control again on Saturday night with his array of passes, flicks, kicks et al it could have been easy to draw comparisons with the great Andrew Johns.

Vinnie Anderson responded for Salford but Peter Fox and Lee Smith added further Trinity tries, Sykes maintaining his 100 per cent conversion rate, before they switched off at the end conceding to Ashley Gibson (2) and Matty Ashurst.

Smith, who put this win down to that excellent pack effort, lifted the club’s Man of Steel trophy last night as well as taking the members’ plaudits. It seems a long time ago now since he was heckled by a section of the Wakefield support following an erratic display against Warrington in May.

However, just like the rest of this squad, he has settled down and found his tempo making a mockery of those who thought he was a doomed signing following his colourful past in Australia and, previously, with Wigan.

“I’m sure if you ask a few other people they’d probably say I was a risk,” he admitted.

“But Rich showed a bit of faith in me and I just wanted to repay him.

“I think it’s a bit different now (to Wigan). Obviously, two kids and a missus is completely different to what it was when I was single and running around.”

Fortunately for Wakefield, it is their opponents he now has running around – chasing shadows. Leeds will be wary.

Salford: Veivers; Williams, Gleeson, Gibson, Williams; Holdsworth, Howarth; Sidlow, Anderson, Boyle, Ashurst, Nero, Wild. Substitutes: James, Adamson, Owen, Neal.

Wakefield: Mathers; Fox, Collis, L Smith, Cockayne; Sykes, T Smith; Amor, Ellis, Raleigh, Mariano, Kirmond, Washbrook. Substitutes: Wood, Trout, Johnson, Wilkes.

Referee: B Thaler (Wakefield).