Squads v Dragons : Fri Aug 18, 2023 4:40 pm  

Re: Squads v Dragons : Fri Aug 18, 2023 6:09 pm  

Strong squad.
I’m sure a couple of our nailed on starters may be rested but that 21 makes a strong 17 regardless.
I’ll be up for breakfast rugby and wishing I was still there.

Re: Squads v Dragons : Fri Aug 18, 2023 8:38 pm  

Was wondering if Gildart would be ineligible for this one (parent club etc), but Cokey clears it up as usual.

Looked up the distance between Vancouver and Yellowknife today VL, guess yours truly still hasn't got a full handle on how vast your adopted country is - same state but 1,400+ miles away. Wow!

La Jeunesse has an online pal, Alex (female, Bongser is told) who's a firefighter over there. Thoughts with her - sounds unusually messy.

Glad you got home safe, mate.

Re: Squads v Dragons : Fri Aug 18, 2023 9:22 pm  

Vancouver Leyther wrote:

Strong squad.
I’m sure a couple of our nailed on starters may be rested but that 21 makes a strong 17 regardless.
I’ll be up for breakfast rugby and wishing I was still there.

Why on earth would anybody be rested

Re: Squads v Dragons : Sat Aug 19, 2023 4:52 pm  

ColD wrote:

Why on earth would anybody be rested

A Lam had alluded to a couple of knocks from the final that were being assessed through to the Capt’s run. When I say rested it would be if not 100%.
Some deft squad handling is going to be needed from here into the playoffs however. Need to win games but also have something in the tank for the playoffs themselves. Don’t forget we have played more games than any other team in SL (except for HKR).

Re: Squads v Dragons : Sun Aug 20, 2023 9:57 am  

Asiata limping with all his regalia on during the cup parade, Josh didn't even come back out for it, looked like his ribs perhaps.

On the game, it was one I didn't expect to win and while it made the cup parade a little more flat I wasn't too downhearted. Catalan are the top side for a reason, they play right on the cusp with the niggle and the slowing of the ruck but they are solid across the park, in defence and attack.

In the first half they were their own worst enemies with the binnings but I feel they just played within themselves as they knew we'd be tired. And we were. They made Lam do a hell of a lot of defending and given that I think 3 tries were from simple kicks behind our line and a little pat down showed how much the last few weeks have taken out of us. Though full credit to Amone who just kept going all match and I think he ran Mulhern close for MoM.

That game is now the past, I expect we'll be 4 points ahead of 5th come this round of fixtures being concluded, not a bad place to be. This team has far exceeded expectations.

Re: Squads v Dragons : Sun Aug 20, 2023 11:27 am  

I am convinced Jon Wilkin hates Leigh. It’s Asiata’s fault he was hit late three times and that he played for that to happen and also Mulhern was at fault for the tip tackle on him. I have seen players duck down when there legs are lifted every week in Super League and NRL. So stop saying it’s just Leigh players at fault Wilkin, you are becoming boring, as your negative comments every week regarding the Leopards are rediculous

Re: Squads v Dragons : Sun Aug 20, 2023 1:11 pm  

Leyther in nz wrote:

I am convinced Jon Wilkin hates Leigh. It’s Asiata’s fault he was hit late three times and that he played for that to happen and also Mulhern was at fault for the tip tackle on him. I have seen players duck down when there legs are lifted every week in Super League and NRL. So stop saying it’s just Leigh players at fault Wilkin, you are becoming boring, as your negative comments every week regarding the Leopards are rediculous

yes several snide biased comments from Wilkin unacceptable someone should have a word next week

Bit unlucky with ball stealing pen I thought.Cats too powerful for us on the day with classy interventions from half backs not much happened last 20

Interesting to see how they end up with team breaking up end of year

How many additions do we need to our squad do we have "A" team to field next year all adds to costs

Re: Squads v Dragons : Sun Aug 20, 2023 8:07 pm  

Deeeekos wrote:

Asiata limping with all his regalia on during the cup parade, Josh didn't even come back out for it, looked like his ribs perhaps.

On the game, it was one I didn't expect to win and while it made the cup parade a little more flat I wasn't too downhearted. Catalan are the top side for a reason, they play right on the cusp with the niggle and the slowing of the ruck but they are solid across the park, in defence and attack.

In the first half they were their own worst enemies with the binnings but I feel they just played within themselves as they knew we'd be tired. And we were. They made Lam do a hell of a lot of defending and given that I think 3 tries were from simple kicks behind our line and a little pat down showed how much the last few weeks have taken out of us. Though full credit to Amone who just kept going all match and I think he ran Mulhern close for MoM.

That game is now the past, I expect we'll be 4 points ahead of 5th come this round of fixtures being concluded, not a bad place to be. This team has far exceeded expectations.

6 points ahead of 5th, think we may be heading for a bit of a drop in form before picking up for the play offs. Some very winnable home games (no disrespect Hudds/Wakey), win those and I reckon that’ll pretty much guarantee 4th

Re: Squads v Dragons : Sun Aug 20, 2023 9:56 pm  

Having won the Challenge Cup in dramatic style, is an amazing achievement for a first season in the top flight. However I would like to point out that July 7, 2023 was the last time Leigh managed to score over 30 points in a game. This was a tricky away game at Castleford. Needless to say we have won two narrow victories in the Challenge Cup, and 2 close wins against Salford and Leeds.

Catalans and Wigan seem to have our cards marked and St Helens appear to have form in the league as we move into the business end of the season.

Oliver Guildart is an adequate replacement for Ricky Leutele, but the left edge now seems somewhat blunted since the Salford win. The opposition have discovered how to nullify what was a Leigh's razor sharp left edge. The right edge has not improved to compensate and if anything Ben Reynolds is on a poor run of form (forget his goal kicking) kicking from hand, missed tackles, poor distribution. Catalans showed what a pair of half backs can do working in tandem, both able to kick with variation and the ability to run across the coal face.

The League Leaders Shield was lost on Saturday, but playoff places are still up for grabs. With 5 fixtures remaining Leigh are slightly adrift of the top 3 but 6 points ahead of Warrington and Salford. I predict a possible 3 wins from 5 games, finishing 4th in League would still be a major achievement. The play-offs are then into knockout territory and anything could happen.