It was always going to be difficult to maintain the intensity of those opening 30 mins. The game was won and the points were already in the bag. The referee then also became more whistle happy at that point which did not help our rhythm.
Did we put the cue back in the rack earlier than we should? Probably, Yes. Would Duffy be happy about that ? Probably not. Points difference could separate 2nd to 5th. Overall Would he take where we sit tonight from where he started ? For sure.
I do agree that McNally is a player you do miss when he is not in the team.
Agreed Harry (as usual - well almost as usual! )
Points difference may well not come into it for us, now. We'll not catch Toulouse on PD, and we probably won't catch Fev. (they increased theirs again today) We are way in excess of York. So, the key for us is results - we have to beat Widnes and York, at home.
I'm a bit to dyed in the wool to do that Budgie, first game I attended at Hilton Park was in 1959, and I have been going ever since, along the way I have seen many more downs than up's but still keep obtaining my season ticket and getting along to more away games than I miss. Leigh RLFC has given me immeasurable pleasure it has also had me sinking to the depths of despair but I wouldn't change any of it. Now back to yesterday, I as everyone else who cares anything at all about the club back in Oct/Nov last year, I would have took anything just to put a team on the field, what the club has done has been a joy to behold from grouping a load of local lads and being ably assisted by Saints (albeit if I was asked I would never have had the DR system for any club in the first place) and what we have acheived is totally beyond expectations and we have got ourselves into a position were we may very well make the rest of the Rugby League sit up and notice, BUT in order to acheive that we have to use each game as a learning curve, and in my opinion we have learned a lot from yesterday, sorry but I am not taking the complacency approach and making excuses or saying"well played Leigh". For 30 mins what we did was exactly as we should have done to the bottom placed team, what transpired for the next 50 was quite simply not good enough, we needed to keep up that effort, momentum and superiority and not lose it on the scoreboard by 18 - 10 to I say again the bottom placed club in the league, and those who are employed to guide the team around the field were the bigges culprits of that lack lustre 50mins. The fans can make any excuse they wish, but it is simply not good enough for professional player's. In the games to come they will have to keep up the effort for the full 80 just as good and successful teams do each and every game, athletes who run marathons dont train by running mile races, it is all about conditioning, and that is to condition yourself to play at your 100% effort for your team mates and yourself for how many minutes you are on the field, anything less will win you nothing. We are actually blessed with one player who typifies all that I have said and he is in my opinion our stand out player this season being Luke Douglas, watch him closely he never gives anything up, he not only drives the ball in he is the forward willing to chase back and never stop, it is all about mindset and attitude, he was brought up with it and has carried it on at Saints or for Scotland and most certainly at Leigh when he may have considerd he has earned himself a rest, his absence was most notable yesterday, and if his teammates displayed the same attitude that he displays, they would not have los the last 50 mins of the game yesterday in the manner they did. Attitude must be the primary concern for John Duffy, he had to kick a door down last week v Swinton at half time to get his point across, it was evident they took that on board for the first half hour yesterday, then fell back to the first half display of the previous week, perhaps he kicked another door down after the game yesterday, if not he should have done.. As I stated earlier I have seen more downs than ups over the years being a Leigh fan and I have seen some bad teams in the Cherry and White, this team is not one of those, I would not criticise them if I thought they were, if they beleigh've in themselves and play for 80 mins who knows what they can acheive, perhaps John Duffy?
Be interesting to see John Duffy’s post match interview- he was absolutely fuming last week about the first half display. What will he make of yesterday’s 2nd half. At least we again fielded our ‘dream ‘ left wing partnership of Marsh and Sa’u, which cannot be threatened by the possible signing of Matty Ashton as he has agreed to play for Warrington next season.
Do we know what our best 13 + 4 actually is and if so when are we going to see it - injuries permitting?
When it comes to the play-offs you can never say never if we have lay the rugby we are capable of for 80 mins but realistically the dice to so loaded in in favour of the Canadian shower to make hope of promotion a heart- breaking illusion - and in truth would we be ready for it?
Next season with this squad we should have a real chance- if we can be consistent
I'm a bit to dyed in the wool to do that Budgie, first game I attended at Hilton Park was in 1959, and I have been going ever since, along the way I have seen many more downs than up's but still keep obtaining my season ticket and getting along to more away games than I miss. Leigh RLFC has given me immeasurable pleasure it has also had me sinking to the depths of despair but I wouldn't change any of it. Now back to yesterday, I as everyone else who cares anything at all about the club back in Oct/Nov last year, I would have took anything just to put a team on the field, what the club has done has been a joy to behold from grouping a load of local lads and being ably assisted by Saints (albeit if I was asked I would never have had the DR system for any club in the first place) and what we have acheived is totally beyond expectations and we have got ourselves into a position were we may very well make the rest of the Rugby League sit up and notice, BUT in order to acheive that we have to use each game as a learning curve, and in my opinion we have learned a lot from yesterday, sorry but I am not taking the complacency approach and making excuses or saying"well played Leigh". For 30 mins what we did was exactly as we should have done to the bottom placed team, what transpired for the next 50 was quite simply not good enough, we needed to keep up that effort, momentum and superiority and not lose it on the scoreboard by 18 - 10 to I say again the bottom placed club in the league, and those who are employed to guide the team around the field were the bigges culprits of that lack lustre 50mins. The fans can make any excuse they wish, but it is simply not good enough for professional player's. In the games to come they will have to keep up the effort for the full 80 just as good and successful teams do each and every game, athletes who run marathons dont train by running mile races, it is all about conditioning, and that is to condition yourself to play at your 100% effort for your team mates and yourself for how many minutes you are on the field, anything less will win you nothing. We are actually blessed with one player who typifies all that I have said and he is in my opinion our stand out player this season being Luke Douglas, watch him closely he never gives anything up, he not only drives the ball in he is the forward willing to chase back and never stop, it is all about mindset and attitude, he was brought up with it and has carried it on at Saints or for Scotland and most certainly at Leigh when he may have considerd he has earned himself a rest, his absence was most notable yesterday, and if his teammates displayed the same attitude that he displays, they would not have los the last 50 mins of the game yesterday in the manner they did. Attitude must be the primary concern for John Duffy, he had to kick a door down last week v Swinton at half time to get his point across, it was evident they took that on board for the first half hour yesterday, then fell back to the first half display of the previous week, perhaps he kicked another door down after the game yesterday, if not he should have done.. As I stated earlier I have seen more downs than ups over the years being a Leigh fan and I have seen some bad teams in the Cherry and White, this team is not one of those, I would not criticise them if I thought they were, if they beleigh've in themselves and play for 80 mins who knows what they can acheive, perhaps John Duffy?
Harry. Who is full time/ part time in this current squad? Douglas can afford to go at it 80 mins it’s his main income. Let’s just share a thought for the lads who don’t have that luxury and done the business all season.
One of the most committed seasons I have seen. We take the points we go again.
40 points to the good after 30 or so minutes, lost the next 50 mins by 18 to 10, just shows how deficient our on the field generals are, Riddy is now to slow to catch a cold, Reynolds we could be generous and say he needs more game time, but I saw nothing to convince me he has improoved at all since he left, totally missed Greg at full back he could have had a hand in another 30 points given the same ball Brierley had, and Junior Sa'u no wonder a club needing players let him go, he is absolutely hopeless as a centre, don't get your hopes up guy's for the play offs we just ain't good enough.
Harry, Riddy has always been slow however, he controlled the game yesterday as usual and that's why Duffy wants him on the field, regardless ! Its only when he doesn't play that the lack of leadership is glaringly obvious! I'll never be a Ben Reynolds fan, ever, if he is charged with the task of leading us around the pitch again then i'm afraid, we will return to the Banal attack we had endured over the last two years! The amount of possession he squandered yesterday was embarrassing, the number of times he threw passes behind players or, to ground just confirmed for me his deficiencies as a 'playmaker' ! I was amazed Shaun Ainscough was able to run the length of the field , zig-zagging in and out of our players to eventually score! Credit to him for a very good effort which I applauded however, once again we see opposing players make us look pedestrian! Gregg is always a loss when he doesn't play because he is so talented and rarely wastes the ball ! I was pleased to see Cory have what I think was his best game since his return and we badly missed his wide running against Widnes! Brierley seems to be playing within himself at the moment and i'm not sure where his best position is? A strange tactic I noticed yesterday was the amount of times our threequarters drove the ball in down the middle It was frustrating to see the scoreboard 'freeze' in the second half but i'm sure we have the nucleus of a good team there !
I recall London not cracking any pots last season, then they suddenly clicked to come from nowhere to gain promotion.
Leigh have third to play for and we will probably throw the game against Toronto. I know i would, but i can hardly see Toronto playing a full strength side either so a potential opportunity should second become a possible reality? Leigh just need to win their last 2 as a priority and attempt to put in a clinical 80 min performance.
I can see Widnes resting a few next week as Barrow have placed no pressure on them to be possibly relegated.
I think Sheffield will upset them anyway.
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