The one thing about this Leigh team is we are usually very consistent, we play the way we do, and although I don't think that gives us the right to win, for me what it seems to do is put all the pressure onto how good the opposition can perform, in lots of games at times we've been second best but they've not been able to sustain their performance for long enough to win it, you can beat us, you are capable of doing so but your players will need to perform, and have a better attitude than Lowes seems to have unless he's trying to play mind games.

Strangely I would rather Leigh players think we will be a walk over next time. It's obvious to me that Lowes preparation has had a particular effect on the players.......not really that surprising. I think a lot may be put into the final match but not because it's Fax. It's all about timing as we have seen over the years......remember Lowes came from a successful Bulls era where nothing was left to chance.
I'm not sure he's right though.

I asked the owner when we drew Wire would we be sending a weakened team to avoid risking the 8's, the reply was that the team wanted to win every game and believed they could. It was the same last year when we drew Leeds away, there is a great belief within the camp at leigh and a huge spirit and trust in their team mates and owner.

Bulls have just reported that they've already sold over 7500 tickets. Due to ticket prices this year the Bulls also have plenty that pay on the gate. Should be a good attendance but a real shame that it's not the top spot decider. That would have added a few thousand more.

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Yeah, Lowes came through in SL where it was only the play-offs that [i:23td3d0rreally[/i but he is the coach, it's his decision and presumably he is taking the team with him, if we are to believe the stuff they are quoted as saying in the paper.

I still don't expect to win - how can we with no proper halves? Even the obvious subs are out, that said, I've seen bigger shocks.

Does that include Leigh sales, if not the gate will be well over 10000

I think Jimmys trying to take the pressure off the team. Let's be honest we're just not going to win tomorrow with no half backs and the form we're in. Don't get me wrong his squad management has been poor and they way he has treated O'brien all season could come to hurt us and him in the crunch fixtures. But If Jimmy said "we need to this" "we're going all out for a victory" etx and we got thumped, it would completely demoralise the club.

That said we should stil give Leigh a game tomorrow and I'll be watching how our forwards go.

With 7500 tickets already sold for tomorrow, u think we can all agree that SL would be muh stronger with both Leigh and Bradford in.

Wakey and Salford out, with both of us in would be the best result for RL imo

Yep without doubt the bulls would win but what im saying is if Leigh lose players in the backs other players step in and the machine moves forward in the same manner as always but with a little less quality,i'm not sure the bulls can say the same.

Anyway,prediction for tomorrow,my head says a big Leigh win,my heart says i hope its a close one.

To be fair, Leigh had a fairly established side, built over the last few seasons, whereas the Bulls had to build a relatively new side after relegation. We obviously had to drop the wage bill, so brought in a number of 'unknowns', some of which have worked and some that haven't. Quite a few of this season's intake won't be here next year - whatever division we're in. I honestly feel it is Leigh's big chance and if they don't take it I feel we'll be much improved next time round, a year stronger and a year better informed.

Lets not carried away with the still being in the Championship. Leigh are a good team "BUT" they have faltered and scraped by in some of there games. Wakefield and Salford are becoming food and other teams are becoming there predators. With a fit, full strength side and the right mindset and strategy there is no reason why the Bulls can not go into the M8's competing and winning.

Leigh are coming here tomorrow and I hope for 2 things 1. As Bull Mania says " I'll be watching how our forwards go " and 2. To see if a couple of the backs "take up the mantle"

"Any opportunity is a great opportunity"

Just been told pre sales at Leigh are over 1500, first one was inaccurate

All the talk of tomorrow 'not mattering' puzzles me. I can't believe any coach or players would go into any game, not thinking they could win it. I'm sure the Bulls' squad will be adopting just that attitude tomorrow - and I'm absolutely certain the Leigh guys will.

Team sport CAN be unpredictable. I accept that you have key players missing but, should we be good/fortunate enough to beat you, I for one will be treating it as a tremendous victory, because, to achieve it, we will have to have turned over a very good team. (despite it being a long time ago, I still have painful memories about the first 40 minutes at LSV)

What would Sooper Dooper League clubs give, to welcome an away following like that - and the one the Bulls brought to LSV?

Yep the nucleus of the team has been there for a few season now but there has been quite a few changes this season,Worthington,Dixon,MoiMoi,Hock and Higham have all come in and are a bit more than just squad men.

Maybe Lowes and some of the players have had a bit of a shock at some of the quality down here?
Should you not go up this season then i hope you do become stronger,Halifax have a good team and i thing they will go to a full time club if they finish in the top 4,the same does for Sheffield which will be great.


I really hope all your first team players are back and firing on all cylinders come the qualifiers,we could do with both clubs taking points of the likes of Salford and wakey to put real pressure on them when they play the other sl clubs

Whatever the coach thinks I doubt he could play it down for the players. No player is going to operate in a disinterested manner. There will be several players involved that didn't play at LSV. I expect the players to be swept along by the expectation of the fans and I'm sure they will want to win. There would be little point turning up otherwise.

You can't turn out with the attitude of coasting as you will get hurt in this sport. 34 players will give it their all tomorrow

I agree Maurice,tends to be some mind games going on here.

Should be a great game then. Here's hoping that can be achieved without the brawls like in the game at LSV.

Out of interest, we'll have four - possibly five - playes involved, who didn't play at ours:-

Gareth Hock, Andrew Dixon, Mickey Higham and Tom Spencer, and possibly Jonny Pownall.

I'm not sure Jimmy Lowes is that clever. I suspect that he set a target and congratulated the players on achieving that. All along he has stated his mantra...it's not how you start, it's how you finish. I know a lot of our fans get worked up about him and his communication skills but if he gets us over the line all will be forgiven. I'm sure we all could do a better job, obviously. Were it possible it would make perfect sense to just hand over the points to Leigh but I think the players would go on strike. They will want to play despite risking injury or suspension. That's the difference between me and them........ We can't afford many more injuries when we embark on the culmination of several months preparation.

There is difference even between it not really mattering and not believing they can win a match. All Jiimy is saying is that although they're turning up to get a win, the result isn't all that important in the grand scheme of things. I'm sure what he is looking for is a big improvement in recent performances from his players.

JIMMY LOWES HAS NEVER BEEN A PLAYER OR COACH WHO DIDN'T WANT TO WIN. IT IS NOT IN HIS NATURE. WE HAVE ONLY BEEN GOING FOR 7 MONTHS MIRACLES WILL TAKE A LITTLE LONGER.

and the benefit from the hard work won't be seen in the Leigh game but will be felt later.

To be honest, I wouldn't be shocked to find they have been in full pre-season mode since second spot was tied up. Whatever happens though, we desperately need the the halves back in the fold or we won't have any chance.

,though I've not seen one who looks ready for 'higher things' as yet, but that has been the biggest difference, imo.

Agree totally. Ruck speed especially is a disgrace most weeks. Leatherbarrow and Bloem seem to have been the best this season. They at least talk to the players and keep more control. Merrick the worst of a bad bunch IMO.

Matt Thomason was the best but I think he got promoted to SL then fell out with the men in charge and quit.

Warren Turley has been injured as has Ginger George Stokes so I think we have had a few officials bumped up from lower down the usual 'pecking order' to the Championship this season... and you can tell!