[Mild Rover]

Lessons from Leigh and Bradford, 2016 : Sat Nov 12, 2016 3:30 pm  

http://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/ma ... centurions I thought the line-ups for this game, early last season were interesting as a comparison with our likely starting 17. There wasn't a massive difference between them on paper and the game was drawn. From there, their seasons went in very different directions obviously, with Leigh ultimately promoted, but Bradford not even making the middle 8s. How do you think our likely starting team compares with these (on paper)? Right now, I'd say slightly better than Bradford, but not quite as good as Leigh. Our back line, from 1-5 looks a little unthreatening and inexperienced, especially. Obviously Heffernan, I don't know much about apart from his highlights reel. Are there any obvious lessons we need to take on board, as we try to emulate Leigh? Bradford's experience has got to be sobering for anybody who thinks we're certain to smash this league. That's a pretty strong full-time team they started out with.

http://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/ma ... centurions I thought the line-ups for this game, early last season were interesting as a comparison with our likely starting 17. There wasn't a massive difference between them on paper and the game was drawn. From there, their seasons went in very different directions obviously, with Leigh ultimately promoted, but Bradford not even making the middle 8s. How do you think our likely starting team compares with these (on paper)? Right now, I'd say slightly better than Bradford, but not quite as good as Leigh. Our back line, from 1-5 looks a little unthreatening and inexperienced, especially. Obviously Heffernan, I don't know much about apart from his highlights reel. Are there any obvious lessons we need to take on board, as we try to emulate Leigh? Bradford's experience has got to be sobering for anybody who thinks we're certain to smash this league. That's a pretty strong full-time team they started out with.

Re: Lessons from Leigh and Bradford, 2016 : Sat Nov 12, 2016 4:02 pm  

Lesson 1: Recruit as the season reaches the business end ( ala Leigh)
Lesson 2: Pay your players on time (ala not Bradford)

That is all.

Re: Lessons from Leigh and Bradford, 2016 : Sat Nov 12, 2016 4:50 pm  

the first think that jumps out at me is the amount of experience pro's on both teams. We seem to be taking a very different approach.

Re: Lessons from Leigh and Bradford, 2016 : Sat Nov 12, 2016 5:11 pm  

Mild Rover wrote:

http://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/match/2016/02/28/bradford-bulls-v-leigh-centurions

I thought the line-ups for this game, early last season were interesting as a comparison with our likely starting 17. There wasn't a massive difference between them on paper and the game was drawn. From there, their seasons went in very different directions obviously, with Leigh ultimately promoted, but Bradford not even making the middle 8s.

How do you think our likely starting team compares with these (on paper)? Right now, I'd say slightly better than Bradford, but not quite as good as Leigh. Our back line, from 1-5 looks a little unthreatening and inexperienced, especially. Obviously Heffernan, I don't know much about apart from his highlights reel.

Are there any obvious lessons we need to take on board, as we try to emulate Leigh? Bradford's experience has got to be sobering for anybody who thinks we're certain to smash this league. That's a pretty strong full-time team they started out with.

Not a bad leigh team but I think I'm right in saying 8 of that team didn't play against Huddersfield in the qualifiers in the game we won promotion.

Re: Lessons from Leigh and Bradford, 2016 : Sat Nov 12, 2016 5:18 pm  

It might just be we have the best coach at the moment if we had had him earlier we might not have been in this position I know its done but we made to many mistakes in the last 3 seasons time I think to put it right

Re: Lessons from Leigh and Bradford, 2016 : Sat Nov 12, 2016 5:23 pm  

Mild Rover wrote:

http://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/match/2016/02/28/bradford-bulls-v-leigh-centurions

I thought the line-ups for this game, early last season were interesting as a comparison with our likely starting 17. There wasn't a massive difference between them on paper and the game was drawn. From there, their seasons went in very different directions obviously, with Leigh ultimately promoted, but Bradford not even making the middle 8s.

How do you think our likely starting team compares with these (on paper)? Right now, I'd say slightly better than Bradford, but not quite as good as Leigh. Our back line, from 1-5 looks a little unthreatening and inexperienced, especially. Obviously Heffernan, I don't know much about apart from his highlights reel.

Are there any obvious lessons we need to take on board, as we try to emulate Leigh? Bradford's experience has got to be sobering for anybody who thinks we're certain to smash this league. That's a pretty strong full-time team they started out with.

Line ups mean nothing MR. If they did, Leeds Rhinos would have won every game last year and we would have hammered Oldham in the cup.

Based on personal experience, I think that coaching, mindset, desire, skill, confidence and luck are the key variables for CONSISTENT success in any team sport.

Re: Lessons from Leigh and Bradford, 2016 : Sat Nov 12, 2016 5:40 pm  

The one thing I don't understand is why we didn't get sheens in straight after we sacked Chester if he had a clause in his contract that he could leave if a head coaches position came up

Re: Lessons from Leigh and Bradford, 2016 : Sat Nov 12, 2016 6:02 pm  

Leigh's side in that game isn't great, I reckon your side will be better than that. But they built momentum and then signed 3/4 good players to push them home.

Re: Lessons from Leigh and Bradford, 2016 : Sat Nov 12, 2016 6:04 pm  

Leigh recruited a very experienced & battle hardened squad. They could probably have fielded a full team with more SL or NRL appearances than Campese. Deep pockets needed to follow that model.

Re: Lessons from Leigh and Bradford, 2016 : Sat Nov 12, 2016 10:05 pm  

Our first attempt at trying to gain promotion started off like a house on fire. We built our team around a young and exciting, unpredictable back line that ran up the points and excited the fans. We took a few SL scalps along the way in the challenge cup. As we approached the middle 8's we started to pick up a few injuries and SL sides had worked out how to stifle our backs and dominate our pack. Both our coach and owner would, throughout the season, belittle our opposition and alienate the club with the RFL and in the media with outlandish statements.

Year two, we appeared to have learned from our mistakes at all levels within the club. By chance the previous arrogant coach had been poached by the Canadian club and we were presented with the opportunity to rebuild from roots to tips. Our owner embraced the RFL and built bridges with opposition directors and the media. Our assistant coach was promoted to head coach and he quickly built an experienced pack that would go on to dominate the league. The style of play was changed to be forward dominated, possession domination style, completing sets and pressurising the oppositions red zone. The season was treated as a "pre-season" to practice the Super League style of play. We regularly rotated the squad to ensure that any player could step in and wouldn't be Afraid of dropping an out of form star player. More than anything we built up a team that saw themselves as a SL side in waiting. They believed that they should be playing rugby at the top table and went for it. Players that decided that they couldn't take the risk of fighting for a chance of Super League rugby with Leigh were quickly replaced by superior players who were prepared to give it a go. It didn't matter that it was June/July, if you were looking to get a contract elsewhere for the following season you were dumped out of the squad and replaced by someone who was prepared to fight to get the club a Super League place. (Make sure you keep enough space on the cap to do this!).

All in all, build a Super League pack from day one, don't get involved in the Championship spoiling tactics, keep building your squad throughout the season and ensure that your fan base believes in what you are doing. The championship is an enjoyable comp, give it the respect it deserves and enjoy the ride!