Leigh had to get rid of seven of their top earners, to get the wage bill down quickly - simple economics to try and rectify the situation they had got themselves into. I believe Featherstone had to do something similar. Leigh attempted to redress the shortfall in numbers in their squad, by taking three HKR players on loan, plus signing three local amateurs. They currently have nine players - Evans, Reynolds, Hood, Mason, Richards, Cunningham, Adam Walne, Cox and Peet - out injured, and are not allowed to sign anyone else, since the deadline. Again, I believe Featherstone are in a similar position.
We can blame all sorts of things for the situation these clubs find themselves in - and I fully accept that Leigh's disaster is of their own making. However, to add to their woes, they now find themselves in a meaningless competition, with an injury crisis, they can do nothing to alleviate. Credit to them, and Featherstone, for fulfilling their remaining, farcical, fixtures - who's for a nine-a-side Championship Shield final, next week?
