With only Ridyard and Higham left as possible local lads in our squad, is the unthinkable (i.e. a Leigh squad without any Leythers in it) about to happen in 2018?

That would disappoint me personally - and how would it sit with the loyalties of our supporters?

Couldn’t give a toss where the players are from. I want to see a winning team that entertains me. If they are all from Leigh or all from Mars it doesn’t matter.

Local lads are a nice to have, if they are good enough to get you where you want to be. Maybe we can snatch Mangredi or Woods from Wigan

Well, Ridyard was good enough to help to get Huddersfield away from where they DIDN'T want to be!

Some players will always be better at some clubs rather than others, Brough pulls the strings at Huddersfield nobody did that at Leigh

Who will pull the strings in 2018?

That's one of my concerns, but I guess we still need to wait and see the completed squad, before we have an answer to that one.

Ridyard was one of the players pulling the strings at Huddersfield, both in Brough's absence and when he was back in the team. When did Ridyard get the chance to pull the strings at Leigh, last season?

He missed a chunk of preseason, looked unfit v Cas, missed the wins v Saints, Wire and Huddersfield. Came back for 4 games in April that included the CC loss to HKR, home losses to Widnes and Cats and probably our worse spell when we should have been kicking on. Thought he had a good game at the GF loss to salford before departing after the CC loss - something obviously happened, but losing Drinkwater at Wakey saw him never regain his early season form also. SL halves must take the line on, Brough does that.

Something that Drinkwater would not even contemplate doing, and Reynolds did little more.

Mortimer did exactly that when he was in the halves, depending on who else is coming, up to now on the books Mortimer has to be either 6 or 7.

Ok, out of who we have signed. I still personally consider Mortimer a 9 though.

Looked unfit v Cas? He (Ridy) WAS unfit v Cas (and a tad or two pounds overweight for the reason that you mentioned in your previous clause). When he came back into the team he was not given any ball to work with. Was that the onfield decision of the players around him (they would predominantly be different in 2018 were he to re-sign) or the decision of his coaches (they would predominantly be the same)? Ridy produced elsewhere and showed that he could do so at SL level.

Bongser would rather, at least, some Leythers playing for Leythe. Whether Ridy should play for us next year is dependant on the answer to the main question in the previous paragraph.

Ridyard has a deal on the table, it is just awaiting his signatute

He has also received alternative offers from 2 other none SL clubs. However I believe only Leigh's offer is a full time one.

Thanks & good evening Harold. Bongser has to say that you are obviously much more clued in on contractual completions than he is.



Good news if true. Like the bloke as both a player and a fellah and he is seen as the public face of the club - no disrespect to DB intended.

Fingers crossed. Where there's HRJ there's hope

BTW, how old are you Harold?

I suppose its down to what contract is on the table. The other two part-time options,maybe offering more,or more viable to him.

Staying at the club for his testimonial season must be a big draw financially, I'm sure that would be well supported by the fans. And as things stand I think he would be a starting half, and proven more than capable at the level we're at

Certainly should know the route out of the Championship, and how to negotiate a route through the Middle '8's'

I think Riddy is crucial, local lad, plays his heart out, but more importantly a player who is very game intelligent and can organise both the front and back line. Why idiots like Stewart/Pellisier chose during the first few matches he was back to totally ignore his calls is beyond me, but they are gone and we are better for it.

I originally presumed HRJ to be a mature fella, was quite shocked when sharing a beer with him to see a very athletic mid 20's Adonis looking back at me

33 and a third.

That most definitely was me. it has often been said but modesty is a personal trait

Not really, I am just a nosey owd bugger.

The part time options do not offer him any more financially but yes may or may not be more viable to his personal circumstances.

Ridyard's FT deal is on reduced terms than his Super League contract that is for sure, but he is not alone among our players in that respect.

Quite right too. All their contracts were boosted when they achieved SL status so it is only right they are cut when playing championship.