Re: Squads - Leopards v Warriors : Sat Oct 05, 2024 9:22 pm  

Great season, entertained us all year.

Tonight however, was a painful watch. I was worried about us from the moment I saw us warm up, we looked lacking in energy and execution was poor. The game kicked off with a similar theme. Hoping it was just the intensity of the last two games on top of the extended run we had to put together meant that we had little left.

But onwards to 2025 and what looks like another interesting year for the Leigh Leopards.

Re: Squads - Leopards v Warriors : Sat Oct 05, 2024 11:26 pm  

Agreed mick. We can only keep on building, and try to compete to challenge with the best clubs in Superleague.

Re: Squads - Leopards v Warriors : Sun Oct 06, 2024 8:14 am  

A disappointing but perhaps not unexpected result last night that should not detract from an otherwise brilliant season for the Leopards in which we have consolidated our position in the top 4 or 5 clubs in Super League.

Worst fears were realised last night but there will come a time soon when we will beat The Pies and I for one will be looking forward to that day. For the moment Wigan are simply too good for us, and just about everybody else in the competition, but we must not let the season be defined by what happened last night.

We proved pundits' pre-season predictions wrong by finishing in the play-offs again for the second season in succession and we went further by winning the first play-off game against Salford. Home attendances have grown and the Den is becoming a truly daunting place for opposing teams to visit. This all represents both progress and success.

Perhaps the most important news is the re-signing of Adrian Lam on an extended contract and the provisional IMG grading which should ensure our Super League status and the club's financial future.

The club is growing and becoming a Super League powerhouse. As disappointing as last night's result was it was only a bump in the road in what is otherwise the club's steady rise to elite status.

We now say goodbye to players, genuine fans' favourites, whose names will be revered by supporters for years to come. Thank you to all of them for their dedication to the club and the sheer enjoyment that their skills brought to the field of play.

Now we look forward to the announcement of their replacements. The story goes on and I for one cannot wait for next season. Bring it on!

Re: Squads - Leopards v Warriors : Sun Oct 06, 2024 8:44 pm  

Quality post Jack.
Nothing much to add to that from me. This is year 3 and we are ahead of the game in my book.
-Survival (and we were in dire straights squad wise) and then promotion year 1
-Challenge Cup and playoffs year 2
-5th, playoffs, reached semi so finished 4th year 3. Also provisional IMG grading success. Also amazing cross home and away.
It’s a good time to be a Leyther and

Re: Squads - Leopards v Warriors : Sun Oct 06, 2024 8:45 pm  

Quality post Jack.
Nothing much to add to that from me. This is year 3 and we are ahead of the game in my book.
-Survival (and we were in dire straights squad wise) and then promotion year 1
-Challenge Cup and playoffs year 2
-5th, playoffs, reached semi so finished 4th year 3. Also provisional IMG grading success. Also amazing cross home and away.
AND SL for the ladies team next season !!!
It’s a good time to be a Leyther and

Re: Squads - Leopards v Warriors : Sun Oct 06, 2024 10:04 pm  

Not the way I would have wanted to finish the season, but one game doesn’t define what a year we have had. The amount of injuries we had for nearly half a season to so many pivotal players made it look like we would be lucky to stay away from a bottom two finish. To finish where we have is a tremendous effort by all the squad and coaching staff, to that I am truly thankful and wish nothing but the best for the players who are leaving. The boys going back to the nrl deserve there chance. I am sad to see the squad split up, they had a great bond and I hope we can have that again next season. I am sure we will. Once again thank you for a great season.

Re: Squads - Leopards v Warriors : Mon Oct 07, 2024 7:22 am  

Wigan are currently the benchmark and Matt Peet is a good coach, he is however very lucky that the new owner is prepared to splash the cash as I’m not so sure he would be so dominant If Lenaghan was still the owner.

Just for context Wigan spend well over 3 million per season nearly 1M more than Leigh so don’t get to downhearted it’s easy for Wigan fans to gloat when they they spend so much more than most teams and swallow huge financial losses per season quite easily, if they weren’t so successful the pressure would be well and truly on Peet.

It’s no different to us going through the championship spending more than everybody else and winning easy every week, the fact the likes of Leigh & Salford are competing in the playoffs is a testament to how well these clubs do and how far the Leigh club has come in 2 years, the future is very bright for Leigh.

Wigan are a great team, but they should be.

Re: Squads - Leopards v Warriors : Mon Oct 07, 2024 8:21 am  

It seems this last two years we've established ourselves as one of the top 4 or 5 teams in the league, but not really got close to the top two. Especially so this year. Nilled twice by KR, once by Wigan and think we only scored 1 try in each of the other two games at Wigan. For that reason, it was a bit disappointing that we attempted to play the same system as we've always done, but without O'Donnell and Charnley to make it even remotely feasible. Would've liked to have seen Ipape moved to 13 or even 6.

Hopefully next season, with a bit of extra speed in the backline, hopefully a new 6 brought in to replace Moylan that adds a kicking game, we can cause teams problems even if they match or beat us down the middle.

But, if you'd said at the start of the season that Ipape and Asiata would both miss 10 games, Mulhern 7 and Amone 6, yet we'd still make the semi final, I think most would've been happy. And I'm pretty sure we'd have beaten anyone outside the top 2 even with O'Donnell, Charnley and Halton missing. Just need to make that next step, it might take a few years, but would back Lam and Chester to get us there.

Re: Squads - Leopards v Warriors : Mon Oct 07, 2024 9:45 am  

Binosh wrote:

Wigan are currently the benchmark and Matt Peet is a good coach, he is however very lucky that the new owner is prepared to splash the cash as I’m not so sure he would be so dominant If Lenaghan was still the owner.

Just for context Wigan spend well over 3 million per season nearly 1M more than Leigh so don’t get to downhearted it’s easy for Wigan fans to gloat when they they spend so much more than most teams and swallow huge financial losses per season quite easily, if they weren’t so successful the pressure would be well and truly on Peet.

It’s no different to us going through the championship spending more than everybody else and winning easy every week, the fact the likes of Leigh & Salford are competing in the playoffs is a testament to how well these clubs do and how far the Leigh club has come in 2 years, the future is very bright for Leigh.

Wigan are a great team, but they should be.

Are you saying Wigan are spending more now that the new owner has come in?

Which areas specifically?

Can you show me the evidence?

Re: Squads - Leopards v Warriors : Mon Oct 07, 2024 5:02 pm  

nathan_rugby wrote: Are you saying Wigan are spending more now that the new owner has come in? Which areas specifically? Can you show me the evidence? https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/sk ... 1.7million. Marquee players - French and Field mostly NSemba has signed a tasty new extension

nathan_rugby wrote: Are you saying Wigan are spending more now that the new owner has come in? Which areas specifically? Can you show me the evidence? https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/sk ... 1.7million. Marquee players - French and Field mostly NSemba has signed a tasty new extension