Re: Squads - Leopards v Giants : Sun Sep 03, 2023 4:21 pm  

Now its complete I suppose its time to review this rather surreal experience, though to be fair, Sunday's conclusion more or less carried on where Friday's had ended, in every way.

Leaving the ground on Friday early, chancing it wouldn't ever get restarted I thought we were the better team and the score line was a little, only a little mind, flattering to Giants. It was a fairly even contest up the middle, though them losing Hill probably helped us a lot. Ikahihifo for them really stood out. They played very good expansive attacking rugby but the same couldn't be said for their defence, the main worry was if Josh would have his two tries chalked off.

But I felt the most sensible decision was made overall to restart the match where it had finished, if anything I hope the lady who had to stand on the pitch next to the ball should play resume on the night gets some extra pay.

Today was just more of the same, I felt that the short time remaining and the way we'd played in the previous 50 minutes would be to our benefit and so it was. We played with good speed in attack and it is good to see us able to score from all over the park again.

I'm most intrigued to see what happened on Friday with Ipape's attempt, which wasn't a try but was a drop-out to us, puzzled what would have happened.

A few issues in our defence need sorting but it was good to get back to winning ways.

I don't see a win against Saints and nor do I care, it should be more about nursing the squad through the last few matches and keeping the fit and at a level to give the play-offs a good shot. I expect our upcoming match will be played up as some kind of grudge match following the semi, but I think too much time has passed for it to be the possible violent, grubby affair it threatened to be (though with with Lees and Knowles on the pitch you never know).

Re: Squads - Leopards v Giants : Sun Sep 03, 2023 5:18 pm  

Deeeekos wrote:

Now its complete I suppose its time to review this rather surreal experience, though to be fair, Sunday's conclusion more or less carried on where Friday's had ended, in every way.

Leaving the ground on Friday early, chancing it wouldn't ever get restarted I thought we were the better team and the score line was a little, only a little mind, flattering to Giants. It was a fairly even contest up the middle, though them losing Hill probably helped us a lot. Ikahihifo for them really stood out. They played very good expansive attacking rugby but the same couldn't be said for their defence, the main worry was if Josh would have his two tries chalked off.

But I felt the most sensible decision was made overall to restart the match where it had finished, if anything I hope the lady who had to stand on the pitch next to the ball should play resume on the night gets some extra pay.

Today was just more of the same, I felt that the short time remaining and the way we'd played in the previous 50 minutes would be to our benefit and so it was. We played with good speed in attack and it is good to see us able to score from all over the park again.

I'm most intrigued to see what happened on Friday with Ipape's attempt, which wasn't a try but was a drop-out to us, puzzled what would have happened.

A few issues in our defence need sorting but it was good to get back to winning ways.

I don't see a win against Saints and nor do I care, it should be more about nursing the squad through the last few matches and keeping the fit and at a level to give the play-offs a good shot. I expect our upcoming match will be played up as some kind of grudge match following the semi, but I think too much time has passed for it to be the possible violent, grubby affair it threatened to be (though with with Lees and Knowles on the pitch you never know).

At the start of the season, i think everyone's expectation was to stay up. We now have one hell of a trophy in the cabinet, and currently sitting in the playoff's. The heady days of travelling away to the back and beyond on a cold winters night while sitting in the championship seem a distant but fond memory.

I tip my hat to all that have got us here.

Re: Squads - Leopards v Giants : Sun Sep 03, 2023 5:25 pm  

It was a game of two halves. Observations of the Leigh attack, still clunky with a couple of handling errors, easy tries for Ipape and Asiata, the later because we kept the ball alive. Superb poachers try from Lammy jnr. Impressed with Frankie Halton who offers something different and looked incredibly happy to play for his hometown team.

On the negative side Reynolds still missing one on one tackles, he gets shrugged away when attackers hand off. The right flank is incapable of dealing with 5th tackle high balls, not contesting and shepherding to assist Briscoe and O'Brien. In fact, this was Huddersfield only attacking option. Expect a plethora of bombs in future games.

15 wins in the Super League (and a Challenge Cup) is a tremendous achievement. A play-off spot is almost guaranteed.

Delighted to see the team acknowledge that there are Leigh supporters in the East stand.

Re: Squads - Leopards v Giants : Sun Sep 03, 2023 6:05 pm  

RoyBoy29 wrote:

At the start of the season, i think everyone's expectation was to stay up. We now have one hell of a trophy in the cabinet, and currently sitting in the playoff's. The heady days of travelling away to the back and beyond on a cold winters night while sitting in the championship seem a distant but fond memory.

I tip my hat to all that have got us here.

Quite.

It's a bit flippant of me to say I don't care, I do obviously but not at the expense of injuries and not when we're already 2 wins out of 2 vs Saints this season anyway, something I never would have expected at the start of the season. But then again there is a lot I didn't expect and its all good.

Re: Squads - Leopards v Giants : Sun Sep 03, 2023 6:09 pm  

Septimius Severus wrote:

It was a game of two halves. Observations of the Leigh attack, still clunky with a couple of handling errors, easy tries for Ipape and Asiata, the later because we kept the ball alive. Superb poachers try from Lammy jnr. Impressed with Frankie Halton who offers something different and looked incredibly happy to play for his hometown team.

On the negative side Reynolds still missing one on one tackles, he gets shrugged away when attackers hand off. The right flank is incapable of dealing with 5th tackle high balls, not contesting and shepherding to assist Briscoe and O'Brien. In fact, this was Huddersfield only attacking option. Expect a plethora of bombs in future games.

15 wins in the Super League (and a Challenge Cup) is a tremendous achievement. A play-off spot is almost guaranteed.

Delighted to see the team acknowledge that there are Leigh supporters in the East stand.

Agree with this and having just re-watched the Wembley win for the umpteenth time that is exactly how KR got that try in the last seconds, in fact over recent weeks we've let in numerous 5th tackle tries simply by falling off tackles or being completely asleep.

Re: Squads - Leopards v Giants : Sun Sep 03, 2023 7:12 pm  

Relax folks. Two wins within 44 hours - this Leyth side go from strength to strength

Wonder if Watson voiced his opinion that he would prefer a full replay rather than what happened AFTER the decision - a cover ass.

With the mood that Leigh were in today, a full 80 could have gotten really messy for Giants!

Well done Lads.

Also pleased that we have resumed scoring tries. From April 15 (Wakefield away) to July 7 (Cas away) - TWELVE matches - we put 30+ on the board in all bar two (missing by two points in one of those).

Today (and Friday) was the first time since.

Re: Squads - Leopards v Giants : Mon Sep 04, 2023 5:38 am  

Bent&Bongser wrote:

Relax folks. Two wins within 44 hours - this Leyth side go from strength to strength

Wonder if Watson voiced his opinion that he would prefer a full replay rather than what happened AFTER the decision - a cover ass.

With the mood that Leigh were in today, a full 80 could have gotten really messy for Giants!

Well done Lads.

Also pleased that we have resumed scoring tries. From April 15 (Wakefield away) to July 7 (Cas away) - TWELVE matches - we put 30+ on the board in all bar two (missing by two points in one of those).

Today (and Friday) was the first time since.

Seems like this committee was all pwerful Huddersfield did not agree to what happened but no appeal allowed.think we got the better of this one. we should be looking to challenge for title now win at stains. i am sure lam will be thinking that way
the try from kick on fri no one challeged in front of scorer plus we have missed 40 plus tackles a game from missing back rower takes some pressure off

Re: Squads - Leopards v Giants : Mon Sep 04, 2023 5:39 pm  

For a while, SM, there was an elephant in the room. No one dared mention the possibility of Leigh winning the League Leaders Shield (except a dizzy blonde). Barring mathematically, that ship has now sailed (Nelly the Elephant has packed her trunk and said goodbye to the circus - Charlie C did offer a new contract but the purse strings were tied as he'd already 'trumped' up for a new marquee (big top)).

You are now introducing a giraffe into the room and are 'having' it live on social media!

Ladder? Use the one in the XXXL tights of said cameLEOPARD.

Re: Squads - Leopards v Giants : Mon Sep 04, 2023 5:46 pm  

Bongser. Hasn't the period of the largely non-functioning attack almost completely coincided with the season finishing injury to Ricky Leutele?
The famed 'cutting left edge' has been largely toothless since his loss.
For my money he has been class and the team have missed him greatly and their performances have been diminished without him.

Re: Squads - Leopards v Giants : Mon Sep 04, 2023 6:53 pm  

Two for Charnley on Friday, Jack. Furthermore, it could be argued that Huddersfield's fear of our left edge (with no little help from Halton's run in that direction) paved the way for Asiata to stroll over inside.