Thoughts on today : Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:37 pm  

Thought that was a decent effort from Leigh today despite the final scoreline.
As usual Bentham did us no favours & at times it certainly didn't look like a 2 million pound difference between the squads (or whatever Wigan's salary bill is these days!!).
I just thought Leigh were lacking at Stand off, especially in the final 3rd and good though he was at NCL level, I'm far from convinced Martin Ridyard is good enough for this level, plenty time for him to prove otherwise though.
I was very impressed with the young lad who played dummy half in second half, he gave us great go forward and thought Jimmy Taylor , Armistead & Chris Hill were strong in the pack.
Given the vast diffence in salaries, I think we did OK really & I reckon we'll give most teams a game in the Championship.
A bit cowd though!

: Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:50 pm  

Positives for me:

Some of the goal line defence was terrific otherwise we would have been battered

Never say die attitude

Committment was not lacking

How many teams will get 7 or so (could have been more) repeat sets against W!g$n

Cooksons footwork and attempts to go forward

Stanton could frighten some opposition teams.

Watsons kicks close to the line (however far too many today)

The atmosphere created

The numbers of travelling supporters

Negatives:

Lack of variety on the oppositions line

Speed at the play the ball

Lack of home support against our local rivals

Poor effort from the pie supporters in adding to the atmospere. (They only have one song and that was hardly heard)

All in all a decent effort against a virtual full strength, overpaid, expensively assembled Super League side. If we had a tenth of their money to spend then......

: Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:50 pm  

Stanton - looks good at hooker, plenty of go forward. There's a couple of things from today's game. First, we had loads of territory and possession in the pie's 22 but could not come up with a score. If the game reflected territory we could have won! We need to sort out what we are doing on the last tackle - chip it in and 4 can chase it is one option - but options is what we need. Second, 10, yes ten foreign players in the pie's team - how in the world is that helping British Rugby League? Only 2 of them are any good! Leigh 0 Australian has-beens 32. Rugby League is a joke.

: Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:54 pm  

billieleyther wrote:

Stanton - looks good at hooker, plenty of go forward. There's a couple of things from today's game. First, we had loads of territory and possession in the pie's 22 but could not come up with a score. If the game reflected territory we could have won! We need to sort out what we are doing on the last tackle - chip it in and 4 can chase it is one option - but options is what we need. Second, 10, yes ten foreign players in the pie's team - how in the world is that helping British Rugby League? Only 2 of them are any good! Leigh 0 Australian has-beens 32. Rugby League is a joke.

Got to agree with you there BL. The laughing stock of professional sports in my eye

: Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:00 pm  

Leigh did well. The effort / application was there. They have a major failing though and that is there predominance to play 90% of their game with ball in hand down the right hand side. They desperately need a left sided playmaker. You have 2 centres to attack Carmont or Phelps and they choose to go at Carmont. It makes no sense.

Even the kicking game goes down the right and to show howsilly that is. A chip kick was put up v Pat Richards one of the best at fielding kicks yet centre and left Leigh had Mathers and Phelps to target. Who in their right mind targets Richards with those people to have a go at. Karl Pryce has been really bad under the high ball v Wire, Hudds. Yet when he came on, Leight kept grubbering down their right rather than target him. Both Wire and Hudds scored tries doing so.

Neither Watson nor Ridyard have a long kicking game either.

If Leigh are going to be so right sided they may as well put Donlan at centre and Stanton on the wing down that side with Mort at fullback.

If I was at Leigh I would sign Mossop on a season loan ASAP

: Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:07 pm  

Billieleyther, Agree with you about the Dummy Half being good in 2nd Half, but isn't his name Durban? Stanton is the little fast winger isn't he?
Also forgot to mention Donlan who is just different class.

: Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:21 pm  

I think Billy is referring to the times Stanton went into dummy half and made yards/gained penalties etc. He was wasted on the left though today.

: Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:23 pm  

You need to use Armistead more to playmake IMO Taylor is decent. You lack a strong front row. Maybe Hobson can add to that.

Leigh's key is sorting out their attack.

: Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:27 pm  

Charlie Seeling wrote:

You need to use Armistead more to playmake IMO Taylor is decent. You lack a strong front row. Maybe Hobson can add to that.

Leigh's key is sorting out their attack.

Groundhog Day on this point (couldn't spell DeJaVu ) - that was pretty apparent today.

But we will have to work with the cards we have been dealt with and give Ridyard an opportunity. He is a better player than what was seen today (and this is not to say he was poor)

: Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:46 pm  

C Hill must start, he puts defences on the back foot and gets us moving forward.
JT will make a prop, he showed that today.
Armistead will have a great year.
Donlan/Higson in centres
Great defence, lacking cutting edge still but that display would beat most Championship teams, 2 new signings next week.