Re: 2015 Middle 8 Watch : Thu Feb 19, 2015 8:15 am  

Well if a team plays an aggressive style of rugby call it thuggish if you wish, the way to combat that is play your own style, keep your heads and don't get dragged into it, that way you get the penalties and you end up with more folk on the park, if Bradford got dragged in and ended up with 3 yellows just the same then they are as guilty. It's all about intelligent play but that seems beyond some players.
not gonna make it to lsv but hope it's a decent contest

Re: 2015 Middle 8 Watch : Thu Feb 19, 2015 7:49 pm  

mickyb1234 wrote:

Well if a team plays an aggressive style of rugby call it thuggish if you wish, the way to combat that is play your own style, keep your heads and don't get dragged into it, that way you get the penalties and you end up with more folk on the park, if Bradford got dragged in and ended up with 3 yellows just the same then they are as guilty. It's all about intelligent play but that seems beyond some players.
not gonna make it to lsv but hope it's a decent contest

A good number of fans from other clubs in the Championship commented last season on how Leigh were using "strong arm" tactics. I have no problem with it so long as they stay within the laws of the game (it's not chess they are playing) and the referees police it. As you say, the best way to overcome it is to play rugby and by all accounts when teams have done this leigh have looked fairly ordinary.

I think the Leigh game will be a good benchmark of how our season will go.

Re: 2015 Middle 8 Watch : Thu Feb 19, 2015 11:07 pm  

enigmatic wrote:

A good number of fans from other clubs in the Championship commented last season on how Leigh were using "strong arm" tactics. I have no problem with it so long as they stay within the laws of the game (it's not chess they are playing) and the referees police it. As you say, the best way to overcome it is to play rugby and by all accounts when teams have done this leigh have looked fairly ordinary.

I think the Leigh game will be a good benchmark of how our season will go.

We scored over 1000 points last season in the league. Don't worry, we can play rugby! We were playing most teams off the field which was when some sides seemed to change tact and see if they could rough us up. We can play tough when we have to but speak to any Leigh fan and they will tell you that our style of play under Rowley is better than anything in years. Expansive, fast and exciting.

Re: 2015 Middle 8 Watch : Thu Feb 19, 2015 11:47 pm  

Nozzy wrote:

We scored over 1000 points last season in the league.

And?
You strong armed a number of teams......Halifax were all over you until the fighting started.
I'm not saying you shouldn't play rough, but most fans of the other 2014 championship clubs think you bullied a few of them with borderline tactics

Re: 2015 Middle 8 Watch : Fri Feb 20, 2015 7:59 am  

Maybe that's good coaching. Hoodwinking the ref(lesser standard in this league) is all part of the game.

Intimidation is all part of the game as is adapting to the circumstances.

Leigh are a good team enjoying good times for the first time in many years.

This will be the toughest test of the year in the initial league format.

Re: 2015 Middle 8 Watch : Fri Feb 20, 2015 10:13 am  

Fully agree with all the comments apart from blaming the ref! Strong arm tactic is an interesting phrase, as long as its within the rules of the game then bring it on, good hard aggressive rugby is not a problem. Players who can take the big hit, get up smile and get on with the game are the ones that win the mental battle and get the result from the ref in the end.

The Bradfurt game with 3 sin bins for each side showed that either both sides were as guilty, or one sided started it and then the other side retaleated! the strength in a team is resisting the retaliation, that way you end up not getting the yellows or reds.
Look in SL Catalan play very aggressive game, and look at the price they sometimes pay.
Let leigh play the game they want, Joey needs to drill it into our lot, dont react to "strong arm" dont get dragged into anything stupid, take the big hit if they come get up dust off and get on with it, thats what frustrates the other player and thats what makes them step over the line from "strong arm" to foul play, that then results in the penalties and them playing with less bodies on the park!