In the real world the only youngster we have capable of progressing to a higher level if brought along correctly is Higson.

Some may find that harsh but it is IMO the truth.

Some of the other youngsters we have can hold their own in this division against the bottom half like Donny etc, but they will be exposed for what they are like a streaker at Lords during a 1 day international against the likes of Fax, Barrow and the Chemics.

Play badly and get a win. It'll do for me. I accept we havn't got a world beating team. Whats the point In this non promotion league


Like I say not world beating but they atre still MY team.

i would like the club to state wether we are skint or is the still some money in the pot.

are we still looking overseas, loan deals from super league or thats it for this season.

it would end this particular debate

or fuel it

well lets hope not everyone is like you and gets behind the youngsters

Again i refer to my previous post i love leigh rl and it doesnt make me feel good writing blogs but.....we have no more or no less money than your donnys batley gatesheads and whitehaven(who nearly went bust not so long ago) My point is they seem to play a faster speed of rugby than Leigh from the play the ball to actual passing moves ...we seem so lethargic at times that you want to go on some times and shake them... i will still go to every game as i believe that youth is the way forward it ,maybe might mean that its the way they are being schooled that may be the problem???

Its called realism, sorry if its hard to take.

being negative is what i call it

I suppose its easier to take if you put down to negativity rather than reality for some.

How's Dave Armitstead going for you guys?? We were all gutted when he wasn't offered a new contract - a real 100% player. However, I don't think he'd get into our side at the moment.

Injured

One thing Leythers don't have is patience. I remember a long time ago Hull (Sharks, as they were then) decided to put faith in the youth of Hull to get them into Super League. They decided that they would give every kid in the area that wanted the opportunity to play first team RL their head. They attracted kids that would have normally have gone to the likes of Leeds a spot in their squad. What happened? They unearthed the likes of Richard Horne and eased them in and out of their first 13, eventually sweeping all before them. We need to nurture the young kids we have in the squad and not solely rely on them. Ridyard is the classic example. Before the season started Ridyard was signed as a backup half back for the Aussie we had signed. Had his work permit have come through Ridyard would have been watching from the sidelines learning about this level, coming of the bench in certain games making mistakes and learning from them. What as actually happened is the kid has been given responsibility far beyond his experience and has been made a scapegoat. Talented kids need to have their talent nurtured and used sparingly easing them in. The fans of Leigh have been screaming for youth to be given their chance. The only problem is, the youth have been brought in as a cost saving exercise not as a development exercise. There are kids in Leigh and the surrounding areas who are more than good enough to sign for the club and improve the squad, but they don't want too because they see it as a backwards step. Someone on the board needs to ask the question why.

Going with a youth policy is not a bad option but over exposing kids who dont have the physical size will do more harm than good.
Look at the great Wigan teams that allowed the likes of Edwards/Betts/Clarke/Dermott/Lucas/Farrell/Radlinski/Robinson to come through, for every kid coming through they had 5 established stars to protect them.

only seen him play in the friendly against Wigan, hard to judge him on that day, although his 'attempted tackle' on Andy Coley's try, was like a netball player 'having a go' ! But he certainly looked enthusiastic, kind of bought as a replacement for Lee Doran, BIG boots to fill.

Much better than Doran! Doesn't give away needless penalties and is a 100% workhorse. Offers more in attack with his offloads also.

We've not seen enough to judge how good he really is in my opinion. I know he's injured but what's wrong with him btw?

We are missing him thats for sure.
Good to see Marsh back, now lets find a stand off and get Rudd back at centre.

This youth debate gets me, how can you unearth Super League standard talent if you aren't playing in the Super League?

My thoughts are keep on going lads, yes mistakes will be made but that's part and parcel of playing young players.

The likes of Mort, Higson, Meeks, Hilly, Rourke, Morrison aren't letting anyone down, they are learning their trade and are more than holding their own against people in this division.

Having seen Widnes a number of times this season, they are in a similar position with a group of young players there who will become good players in time.

As for today's game, yes it should really have been killed off at 24-6 and I feel had Alstead's try stood then Donny were there for smashing, as a result of a sinbinning following straight on from that, Donny got a sniff and went close.

Big efforts for mine came from Hobson, Hilly, Rourke before he was injured. Higson got through a lot on the fringes and I felt Jock had a good game both defensively and his passes were crisper. Marshy as well showed some good touches too.

Having looked at the dvd again, Kurt Haggerty had a top game and I hope the club can look at adding him to the squad permanently.

Like him or loathe him, Ian Watson makes that team tick and he kicked a 40-20 too.

It's in the right place Frank, but it's a comma not an apostrophe!

a ugly win is better than a pretty defeat, but boy that was ugly today. I think the majority agree with developing young players, but the best way for young players to develope is playing with experienced quality players, unfortunately we're lacking that, yes we have experience but i do question the quality. i was pleased to see marshy back, no world beater but hge did ok, likes been said can't really have a go at morty 16 points pretty good, but a point i must make is there is no substuitute for speed, and has aleady been said we lackit all over the field, if the players are younbg or old we seem to me anyway to be slower than other teams we've played against, and like matt said donny were bloody awful today, and still we only just managed to take threm, because of our great ability to make it hard for ourselves, but onb saying all that i will take the 3 points.

Well amazing

what was my spelling like

I couldn't make todays game so I cant comment on the performance. I have watched all the others and most of the previous years. Some of the posts are true when they say we are flat and not organised in attack. Have been since we left SL. I have blamed Watto for it but its definitely not him. We have had three head coaches in this time and the playing staff have changed yet we still have bad discipline. The two areas that are left to scrutiny are the back room staff and the board. The board dont take the training of the team so whats left. Before anyone says it, I know some of the back room staff have changed.

Look at Wi@@n now!

I like him!

I also think Ridyard has huge potential and does not warrant the critism and, lack of cofidence in his ability. Stand off is a vital pivotal position on a Rugby pitch and I have been impressed with Ridyard's early 'promise' yes, he had a poor game against Batley along with, many others! John Woods started his Leigh career at fullback and centre before eventually moving to stand off. John was never a great 'play maker' however, he was the best GAMEBREAKER!

I'm not suggesting Ridyard will become another Woody however, I'm happy to continue watching Ridyards progress

I’d rather us play entertaining expansive rugby and lose a few, we’ll win enough to stay up, we’re going no where. Stick with the youth and aim for a good entertaining winning team next year and the year after, when it starts to matter.