Whilst reading through the excellent match day programme I came across the review of our last game against the Russians.I read the Leigh team & thought to myself that the 2003 team was better, more or less, player for player than today's team.I also noted that in his comments Rowley had the opinion that this Russian team would be better than all those years ago,I followed his logic & agreed.Therefore it was safe to assume that the contest would be a closer one than last time.As we now know that was not the case but my question is why? Have Leigh got better? Have the Russians got worse? Have we got worse but not as much as them?
Also what has happened to our crowd there were nearly 2700 on last time & today a very very very poor 1300,are we heading to hell in a hand cart or is there a simple explanation to my concerns?

Maybe we should see how they do against Wakefield ARL (Town Team) on Wednesday night to see what level they are playing at. I read somewhere that not long ago (2005?) that Swinton beat them 70-10. Also Celtic Crusaders beat them just 54-10 last year

Think that's far more to do with the fact that there was a degree of novelty and mystique the first time we played them. Now that we've played a couple of Russian teams, it loses the novelty factor, and it doesn't help that it was never likely to be anything other than a cricket score.

As for the teams, I'd much rather have our current team working their socks off (and with a lower budget) than some of the wasters we had that season.

The information we were able to glean, was that Lokomotiv (and Russian RL) had gone backwards since we last met them. I honestly can't see the benefit of them being invited into the Challenge Cup.

Nevertheless, you pose a very interesting question, there.

Two words: Credit Crunch!

Look at all the cup ties from the weekend nobody broke the 2000 mark with the highest being Widnes v Saddleworth at 1,786 and it was £10 a ticket for that match so I wouldn't worry too much!

As for the team only time will tell all I'll say is I'm really enjoying watching this young team full of Leigh lads! They have alot of potential and I look forward to hopefully watching them flourish over the coming seasons! So in that respect I would say we have made massive steps forward in that we are no longer relient on Aussies and SL hasbeens - we are giving local lads a chance and it's great to see and for that Neil Kelly deserves a massive pat on the back!

.
As for the teams, I'd much rather have our current team working their socks off (and with a lower budget) than some of the wasters we had that season.'"

Was thinking along the lines of Cardoza, Rivett, Richardson et al.

Did you try to compare the age’s player for player?

I would think you’d find most of the team we had out yesterday are younger and have still to reach their potential (hopefully)

Which I think it’s the only way Forward for us.

I take your views on board (saley,glow & leyther matt) & I can agree with most of your points, average age, team development stage, the SL has been theory & the comments made about Kelly.Perhaps this team is not better player for player than the one in 2003 but as is suggested they are at different levels of development & may have the potential to rise higher.

I'd like to see the bill for fetching the Russians over and how much training/match equipment could be purchased for British kids by comparison.

Apart from a jolly up for those concerned, its a complete waste of time and money. How long are folk going to hang onto this idea that the game will grow in places like this to a standard any higher than the Shaw Cup?

There is more chance of having a Leyth team in the Kabadi Cup.

surely the jury is still out regarding massive pats on back.

it is only a good move if these youngsters are good enough and at this moment we simply dont know.

lets judge 6 league matches into the season.

what is wrong with another aussie like adam bristow not all are overseas signings have been bad ones

NO! LETS JUDGE NOW!

Sack everyone, surely!!!

We've blown some money on big name players in the past who haven't lived up to their billing as well.

I believe what we're doing is for the best in the long run but you have to get the balance right with more experienced players as well.

A fair amount of money went on Moran and Toa Kohe Love last season and it didn't pay off and they aren't the only ones. Admittedly sometimes these gambles pay dividends but these guy's weren't really interested in playing for Leigh and we were victims of circumstance with Widnes almost going bust.

It's too early to tell but I think we've got the makings of a pretty solid outfit. We are difficult to beat for sure and we've got to build on that with our attacking play against the better sides.

Rivett made one major mistake but his tries per game ratio will stand up against most successful wingers I'd imagine. At the end of the day thats what we signed him for (to score tries).

I dont think its fair lumping DM in with TKL. Dennis was injured and when not playing was in his Centurions trackie in the stand watching with his kids. Maybe not every match but a good few. I would put Brett Ferris in with TKL. Even though he was supposed to be injured, he was on the earliest flight home and then back as soon as his contract was scrapped.

Ferris was up to all sorts off the field as well from what I heard at the time... probably best not to say what for legal reasons.

I'll admit Dennis Moran gave 100% when he was on the field and I think had he felt his body was up to it he may have given us another season.

Re the low attendance, people aren't gullible enough to stand or sit in the freezing cold watching what we all knew would be a one sided cup tie. I spent £30 at the haven match the week before, unfortunately I can't afford it two weeks running.

Correctamundo!

Attendances will rise once the league season starts we all know that. The early rounds of the Northern Rail Cup and Challenge Cup (unless it's good opposition) just aren't taken seriously by alot of fans, particularly those who haven't got season tickets.

I'm not sure it's entierly down to the credit crunch i think intrest in the challenge cup has been dwindling for the last few years you only get any real interest in the later rounds thesedays. On a side note i can see crowds being affected in the same way in the NFP i spent the weekend with two Leigh fans who have been watching since the sixties and are home and away every game, one of them has stopped going alltogether this season as she just doesn't enjoy it anymore, the other has bought a season ticket but is looking for excuses not to attend games as he hates the LSV and has left every game early so far this season.

brett might be a popular name with the aussies, but i think you mean jason

I've got to admit I was home and away a few years ago myself and I've slowly drifted.

I hardly ever attend an away game but went to most home games last season but I think people knowing we're not playing for SL at the end of the year has put a dampner on it all despite what people say.

That'll be him.

Couldnt agree more, much better to build a side of local lads, than pay hasbeens and journeymen who have no loyalty to the club. I for one think that Neil Kelly will be proven right, in the next couple of years. As fans, I think we need to have a little patience and get behind all the club.

Again, 4 season tickets not one attended on Sunday and I am not enjoying the LSV experience one little bit.
No atmosphere, no bar and not wanted is my experience so far.
Something needs to be done by the club before its too late, they cant wait for the LSV to do something, they have clearly demonstrated their incompetence.
A start would be legends bar to allow fans to feel part of the club again.

I feel a campaign coming on.Go Mo