Salford have the Super League trophy within their grasp but coach Ian Watson has revealed the Challenge Cup was the piece of silverware they really had their sights on at the start of the season.

Because of the small size of the squad he put together on a shoestring budget, Watson says Wembley was a more realistic target but a second-round home defeat by Hull KR in May forced them to re-adjust their aims.

A run of three straight defeats then put Watson's men in relegation trouble, just four points above bottom club London Broncos, but they lost just two of their last 12 matches of the regular season to secure a third-placed finish.

Lolohea was the makeweight in the deal, having failed to make an impression at the Rhinos, but in partnership with Jackson Hastings, he quickly discovered the form that made him a regular with the Tongan Test team.

Watson said: "It was a decision for Robbie and his family and, when Leeds started to throw money at us, we're a club that probably couldn't resist at that time.

"It was a massive blow but I would say since Tui has come in, his level of consistency is probably why we're here.

"He's given us a contrast with Jacko in terms of how he plays. There's a lot of stuff he does that goes unnoticed and Jacko gets the plaudits.

"The one thing we were really worried about when he came was his defence but we spent a lot of time talking about that and his defence has been outstanding."

Despite the presence of newly-crowned Man of Steel Hastings, Salford remain the outsiders at Old Trafford but that is fine with Watson.

"We're the obvious underdog but we know what we need to do as a team to be successful," he said.

"This is why you play rugby league, it's what you work really hard for. To come here and not be excited by it, you'd be missing a trick."