KRIS Radlinski will remember the day a rugby league empire fell when Wigan travel to Salford in the Challenge Cup this Friday.

Radlinski has never forgotten the day Wigan's eight-year unbeaten Challenge Cup run ended at the Willows in February 1996.

It was the end of a glorious run spanning 43 matches, it was the darkest day of Radlinski's career, and for many, it was the day when Wigan's dominance of rugby league was brought to an end.

Andy Gregory's homespun Reds heroes had battered Wigan's star-studded Quality Street gang into submission, winning 26-16 - and nothing was ever quite the same in the sport again.

Ten years on, the two sides meet again in very different circumstances: Wigan are rock bottom of Super League, while Salford are sixth and chasing a play-off spot.

But Friday's rematch has reawakened painful memories for Radlinski, then a youngster making his name in the Wigan team. He left the field in tears after that defeat at The Willows a decade ago.

He said: "It was the day everyone in the Wigan camp dreaded. No one wanted to be in a Wigan side that eventually lost such a magnificent record, but Salford - played out of their skins.

"I'll never forget the feeling in the dressing room afterwards facing up to defeat, it was awful; horrible, in fact.

Determined

"It was a low point, but it definitely helped me and made me even more determined to come bouncing back."

The Salford team that ended Wigan's remarkable run was brought together on a shoestring, containing many players released by other clubs.

Nathan McAvoy had a tremendous game on the wing, Former Wigan youngster Steve Blakeley tormented his one-time employers at stand-off, Paul Forber created havoc in the pack, talented Kiwi Sam Panapa made life a misery for the Warriors and Welsh dragon David Young had arguably his finest game up front for the Reds.

But the chief tormentor was Scott Naylor, a blockbusting centre who had been on Wigan's books as a youngster before joining the Reds. He scored two tries that day and ran the favourites ragged.

Naylor is now a member of the Reds coaching staff, and believes Salford can triumph again.

Competed

He said: "Of course Salford can do it. There's no reason why we can't go all the way this time. We've competed with the best already this season; it's simply a case of turning up in the right frame of mind."

Naylor was certainly in the right frame of mind when he led Gregory's Salford to that famous victory in 1996.

He said: "There was no pressure on us at all; we weren't expected to win, but the more the game went on the more we grew in confidence. Wigan had a side crammed with world-class players, but we just battled away and took our chances. It was such a memorable occasion."

It was an especially sweet day for Naylor, who had spent five years at Wigan from the age of 16 after playing junior rugby for Leigh Rangers and Leigh East.

He said: "I greatly enjoyed my own time at Wigan and loved coming through the ranks alongside Denis Betts, Bobbie Goulding, Phil Clarke and Martin Dermot.

"But I really do think our win over Wigan was good for the game. Wigan had been dominating for years."

But although Wigan are no longer the rugby league force they once were, Radlinski believes they are still a major scalp.

He said: "Every team still wants to beat Wigan, especially in a cup competition. Salford will be aiming for another victory, it's what their fans will want, and it should be a very interesting game."

What is your prediction for the game? Have your say.

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