do people think this very young leigh team could be in a couple of seasons if they allowed to grow as a team, sprinkled with a few old heads i think they could end up one of the strongest in the division the average age must be early twenties and with a good coach to get them there,and made up of local lads wanting to play for their local team

I think as the season goes on we'll see this squad develop and barring any serious injuries I think we'll finish the season very strong.

Fingers crossed lol

From what I have seen so far you may be right.

I think it said in the reporter (or journal) last week that the average age was 23, which I'm sure must be one of the youngest in the division

It will read "youngest and best" by the end of the season.
Come On You Leeeeeeeeeeeeigh.

This team may be young BUT......I wouldnt write us off reaching the GF this year.

We have a young team,a cheap team,a small team,a team I will support fully but unfortunately I have to say it is a team lacking any real standout talent or leader & as a team they don't fill me with hope of success on the field.

I think we're one of the strongest already



Hugely rewarding to see a team of hungry young lads who are playing with pride in the shirt.

sorry you feel like that but i would rather have a team of local talented (i believe anyway ) lads who will give their all for the club rather than an australian journey man who dosent give a dam about the club tkl being a good example for one, and dont forget to give them TIME

Let's not put pressure on the lads and just enjoy the ride.

In the mean time remember this?

Maden, Donlan, McConnell, Hobson, Smith and Watson are all experienced in their own right, while the likes of Taylor, Hill and Alstead have all been around the first team for a long while as well.

Could agree that we need maybe another 'leader' to take the pressure off Watson, but I think McConnell and Smith can both fill that role when they come back from injury.

I agree and you can add Stewart to your list as well.

As for the leader I would like to see Donlan playing a more vocal role, having said that Durbin seems to be a mouthy little sod.

Forgot about Stewart.

Think Armistead could have a growing influence in the back row as well but I'm hoping that Ridyard will take a game by the scruff of it's neck once he settles in a bit more.

I usually like to reserve judgement on the players/squad until the beginning of the regular season however, it has been a while since I have been as content as I am at the moment with what I have seen.

I think we have a decent blend of youth/experience/local talent but feel we need another enforcer in the pack similar to Hobbo but a tad more disciplined

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To be honest Matt yes. I think there is a very fine line between being hard, physical and intimidating in the tackle and being a thug. I am not suggesting that Hobson is a thug for one minute but at times he has proven to have been a liability and a 'tad' ill-discilpined.

Can certainly see where you're coming from, but it's definitely possibly to be a tough, uncompromising player without giving away a ton of penalties.

Exactly what I am saying - I wish Gareth Carvell,James Graham and Sam Burgess(when fit) were available

The thing people dont realise is what good work hobson does off the pitch with the younger players, i think people would be very surprised

You're right, people would be surprised.

I am glad to hear! It is what all our 'experienced' players should be doing helping the younger members of the squad to develop alongside what the coaches are putting in.

Glad we have a few good young lads in locals as well. But we still need our older players as with young teams it is sometimes hard to get consistency.

Agree completely. Hobson's the only forward that gives us steel and a bit of niggle. People are quick to jump on every penalty he gives away but don't realise how many we get back from opposition forwards he's wound up. Perfect example is the Salford game - OK Hobbo gave posession away a couple of times, but the amount of penalties we got back from Cashmere alone was more than worth it.

Obviously there's work to be done in channelling the aggression so as to avoid red/yellow cards etc, which do cost the team much dearer than a couple of ordinary penalties. And I don't think there's any excuse for ill-discipline in talking back to refs etc, which Hobbo was penalised for on Sunday. But we've had much worse offenders in the past who've been forgiven far more easily or even encouraged by the speccies but IMHO weren't half as effective in their position or role within the team.

At the end of the day he may not be a worldbeater but apart from occasional brainstorms he generally does his job and takes a lot of the more physical pressure off our younger forwards, which we really need. I'd much rather we work on his discipline and persevere than let a very young pack get bullied by other teams' "thugs" week in week out.

It’s certainly evident in training, I’m often down at East whilst they’re there and noticed that the experienced players are often one to one with a youngster to such an extent I’ve wondered if Kelly has allocated each of them a mentor.

think we are a young enthusiastic team who seem to be playing for each other.

the test will come with injuries and how we fare away from home at the likes of whitehaven, barrow etc.
i like others worry that without hobson we could get bullied a bit in the forwards, espically the younger ones

but i am enjoying what i have seen so far