We shouldn't even be contemplating bottom 4. It's fair to say injuries, suspensions or something else could determine otherwise, other than that we have to be good enough to avoid the bottom 4.

Derek, I can see what you are saying, and a top 8 finish next season would be great, but I think realistically we will finish somewhere in the bottom 4 of SL and get a place in the middle 8s,I would love to be wrong, but SL is such a different planet to the Championship,again I know we have improved on the playing squad, but so have most other SL teams.

I think being realistic people are prejudging a team that we haven't yet seen play together. If anything our depth will be costly.

I am of the opinion any outgoing forwards have been replaced with much better, bigger, experienced players and I don't see any other team other than Hull with a bigger set. I don't see us getting bullied many times
Down the middle.

I just can't say the same about the backline, we are desperate for 2 centres & a Wing.

We shouldn't have let Worthington go, it took him a while after injury to find form but looked a different player outside Drinkwater with early ball, he also had great edge defence.

What's done is done, i hope we have more players coming.

Atomic ,we all like to play Pundit and predict the outcome of Leigh's coming venture into SL,even though we haven't seen the team play together,it's like picking a horse in a race where none have run before, we make our judgements on reputations and inside info,some fans are even saying our squad now is strong enough to compete, myself I think we need a couple of additions, though Ryan Hampshire has yet to be officially confirmed.

By all accounts the Club were in for Walker from KR but lost out to Saints, Ryan Hampshire still hasn't been announced & rumours of a move for Hardaker seem completely unfounded.

Personally I worry about out & out pace + defence in the backline & have done for a very long time. Surely we need a big & very fast wing & a similar centre ?

We're fine in the pack & at hooker, the halves have clicked nicely together, just needs pinning together now in the quarters.

I reckon we need at least one very good centre. Brown and Tonga are fine, bit Willie hasn't had the best of luck with injuries, and we need some cover.

Agreed, Alan. We also need an announcement, not just to get back on thread, but to better inform the debate on what Leythe's finishing position next season might be. FWIW Bongser would also settle for 10th and anything better than 9th is streaker stuff!

BaB, in my opinion Leeds and Hudds both finished in false positions last year , I know the Table doesn't lie but I think they will both improve a lot next year, meaning Widnes, Wakey,Salford,and ourselves will occupy the bottom 4 ,unless of course we get another Club in a false position which can happen, we have a very tough start and a tough finish,I also realise every Club has to play the same teams,I'm hopeful we can get in the top 8, and I really do think we have the Coaching staff to achieve this , I'm just a bit worried about our back line.

Ian, I'm sorry mate, but we should simply not be thinking bottom 4 at all. top 8 is a MUST and be our aim at all cost. All the fans want top 8 and that is what we MUST do. DB will do everything in his wisdom to make that happen, and it's us as supporters to back him and support him and the club all the way.

....but it does if points deductions accrued in previous seasons are involved. Yup, Diggers, Leeds won't be anywhere near the Mid8s next year. The Salford squad that took part in SL last season didn't deserve to be there - though Bongser agrees that Leigh might have them in the dogfight to avoid bottom four the coming season. Bladdersveldt? Who knows?

Cokey, right behind you mate, aswell as the boys, DB & Jukesy. Go Leythe! Bongser,after taking on excess of his staple diet, dreams of winning The Grand Final (with him playing!!) BUT I'm with Mr Compton when sober......

......so this might be a rare rational post

Derek don't get me wrong , I want Leigh to finish in the top 8 and will cheer them on every game,I'm a betting man and back horses to win I cheer them on as well , but they don't always win.
Can we finish in the top 8?Of course we can , will we finish in the top 8?Now that's a different question,every team in SL are good teams they wouldn't be there otherwise, we have strengthened but so have all the otherteams,again I agree the fans and DB all want a top 8 finish , but you have to earn that finish, as I said I hope I'm wrong, but for me a 9 or 10th spot will be a good finish next season.

Bongser, as I'm a teetotaller , my thinking is always rational, a biased opinion will see us finishing in the top 8 , but an u biased opinion will see us in the middle 8, it's not a defeated attitude just realist.Diggory knows.

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Sorry Ian, It won't.

You seem to be in a minority of 1 on this one Cokey.

We all want to finish top 8, but middle 8's is realistic for the first season in SL.

Hope you're right, the rest of us would be delighted to be wrong

Well those in the majority are living in a half glass empty approach then Iggy, i am a half glass full person myself, and i have always approached life in that way and it's done me no harm at all. I just wish folk would have more faith in what the club have achieved so far over the last 3 years and where we are now. This promotion is no gimmick and no fluke and we are in a good place, so get the bottom 4 out of yer yeds and start being positive and believe that we can go on to better things. remember "BELEIGHVE". I will also reiterate that i never post on here for anyone to agree with me(it doesn't bother me one iota) but i will always post what i think.FWIW - Are all those who have purchased a ST, or for any fan who will attend games for that matter are expecting to finish in the bottom 4? or do they think we'll do better than that, and finish in the top 8? All those who have the bottom 4 in their yeds must be crackers.

Grant you, Cokey, there was 'Rally to the Flag' passion in that post.

Sadly, Bongser is still "Pudding (preferably steak) on the Ritz'.

FWIW

There are several factors that need to be considered:
1. There will be a lot of new players in the team (How quickly will they gell, Will they gell remember Rangi)
2. The intensity Leigh have to play solid for 80 minutes (not 60 as previous seasons, how many times did the opposition score in the last 10 mins)
3. Referees They tend to be more stringent at S.L. Level
4. Flukes: Bounce of the ball etc.
5. Discipline: Dont need to mention Jamie

These are but a few

Can we make top 8 - yes course we can
Can we finish bottom 4 - yes

I realy hope we finish top 8 - it is a big ask but acheivable why not?

Like the saying goes "aim for the stars and if you miss you hit the moon - something along those lines anyway

As previously posted - enjoy the ride - we are superleague - Happy Days

Roll on Feb 2017

Well Bongsy thank you, however my excitement is speedily reduced as i scrabble through your post and then find myself then kind of enjoying your post in an insipid fashion.

But keep them coming old bean.

Zu, i find your 5 factors somewhat mitigating, however, if you hit the moon, well you've got something there.

Cheers Cokey

Well if we are to prejudge,I would say Wire have the strongest pack on paper.Totally agree with your comments on Worthington though.His commitment at Hull Kr was never in question and he made the giants right flank look pretty weak at home.

I feel that Dicko needs special mention too, never took a backward step & overall played great, think he will be missed, totally committed to the cause.

Yes both two player that gave everything even though they where not being kept on, wouldn't have minded them both being though.

As always lots of great posts and totally agree we need to strengthen the back line.

Another major influence on where teams will be positioned at the end of the season - unfortunately is injuries. Poor tackling techniques and the large number of interchanges contributes to this. The fact that huge players can play in short stints "flying in" needs to be addressed, the best way is too limit the changes to 6 IMO.

This would have to be planned for recruiting players who can play big minutes