I too think Ridyard should be re-instated at stand off, I personally think he has huge potential. The fullback issue reminds me of when Stuart Ferguson arrived at Leigh, he'd been a Union fullback and was a terrfic goalkicker and his handling of high kicks was outstanding however, Dave Eckersley was quicker with an all round better game than Stuart but he had to be in the team for his goalkicking ability. Hence his wing position when, Rod Tickle was the better winger but was excluded to accomodate Ferguson!
Donlan has simply got to play fullback, against Widnes and Barrow Mort was 'slow' to retrieve the ball and was consequently tackled over the try line forcing a drop out when, a quicker/more experienced fullback 'may' have cleared the line!

Also the way he dealt (or didn't deal) with the high balls against both Batley and Barrow was indicative of someone with no confidence in taking them. Yes his support play is good but if he is deemed to be at fault for as many as he scores then what is the point. We need a confident full back and an experienced (and good) half back.

If Sheffields new half back Groom is so good why didn't we go for him or similar, sorry but we should be able to afford to pay as much as any other team, bar Widnes to our players based purely on attendances.

Yes I take your point Dave - but if Ned is going to be consistent, by the same token Lee Marsh should not be stepping on the plane to France this weekend.

We are supposed to be building a team for the future. The young guys are understandably going to have off days as part of their learning process. Personally I would rather see Riddy have an off day and continue his development as a young stand off learning his trade above someone who already has more ex clubs than Tiger Woods, and will never even make it to a half decent 6. On Monday Marsh was what I would call poor... In every single department.

Word of the week

dont forget reay was reserve fullback centre at wigan

I agree, in some respects, Marshy I reckon would have to sit out the game on Saturday or only play from the bench - I still think he'd offer more at present than Tony Stewart, nothing against Tony, but its been an age since he gave a really big game - prove me wrong Tony!

Marsh isn't a 6 so why blame him he only plays were yorky boy picks him he's an out and out 13 full stop the blame lies firmly at the door of yorky boy not a player playing out of position.
And Tony Stewart who's he?

He was playing stand off when Shaw signed him and practically all of his games for us he has played there.

Off 2 London now flying tomorrow 6-35am.

Have to agree about Tony Stewart. It is nothing personal at all. He seems a nice chap, but his form does not seem to warrant a guaranteed place in your side. If he plays his way in on form and I hope he does, then fair enough but that is different to the current situation. The most worrying aspect for me, is that when fit, it almost seems definite that he will be selected. Surely, nobody is worthy of this luxury. IMO teams should be selected on form. It is something that really puzzles me about your team selection. I cannot understand why you do not select talented youngsters, such as Adam Rudd and John Cookson, especially over such a busy Easter programme. I am not saying that they should be automatic selections, but it seems to me, particularly with Adam Rudd, that half the entire squad could be injured and he would not get a game. This is very alarming. I always look at things in the following way. Who would I rather play against? Who would the opposition rather face? If you are honest and objective about selections, you will normally come up with the right formula. It is hard not to have favourites, but I think the best coaches always try to get their best players out on the pitch and try to go off form, rather than just selecting their favourite bloke. Being objective, which player would you rather be tackled by, Rudd or Stewart and which one of those two players do you believe would currently contribute more to the team? I too, hope Stewart proves everyone wrong. He has talent, but I am very puzzled as to why this does not show very often at this level. Against Barrow, when your players were tired after their previous matches, I am confused as to why you used Stewart as your bench player and when missing Hobson, did not opt to go with another prop eg.Cookson as your bench player. You have now played all the so called top teams in this league, except Halifax and to be frank, when I have seen you, you look no weaker than any of these sides. What does concern me a little however, is that certain players seem to be absolutely assured of spots, regardless of form, whereas other players seem unable to gain selection, no matter what they do. I have been reading about the difficult situation you have regarding Donlan and Mort. This is definitely a tricky one to solve. However, having watched you several times this season and last, I reckon your best twenty two players, in no particular order, are Higson, Hill, Donlan, Mort, Rudd, Morrison, Taylor, McConnell, Watson, Alstead, Maden,Thomas, Cunniffe, Hatton, Hobson, Meekin, Stanton, Marsh,Cookson, Durbin, Armistead and Haggerty. Obviously, you will have injuries, suspensions, loss of form to contend with during the season and the final 17 selected would have to take this into account. Also, putting these players into their best positions is a tricky task for your coach. However, I feel that if these twenty two or so were available, they are the players I would select from, but who would be a coach? Not an easy job at all.

Marsh not going France (looked to me on Sunday that he didn't want to be going either) Martyn is at 6

Oops! Sorry. Forgot about both Smiths and Ridyard. They too should come into contention.

Donlon still to prove himself a good purchase,Mort had shocking 2nd half,albeit he wasnt the only one.Marsh was obviously not fit & the number of players who gave the ball away on the zero to 3rd tackle (2nd half) was totally unacceptable.

He wasn't a 'purchase' he was a signing, we haven't 'purchased' a player in years.

Which 'age' was it, Iron or Stone!

Ice

if you should give anyone a chance at 6 or 7 it should be nicky stanton, his potention on the the wing is being wasted. he can play hooker anyways that his another position he can play. but he would make a good scrumhalf, he could be like rob burrow at leeds rhinos.

And Rourke too

Rourke has to be in the 17 for me......played well every time he has put the shirt on.

18th man sat

Yes. Quite right. Suppose it would have been easier for me to say that I am not a fan of Stewart or Reay, based on form so far this season. Puzzles me how they are nearly always selected and Rudd, Cookson etc do not seem to be able to get a game.

Could be interesting that one. He's certainly got plenty of speed and we haven't seen a pacy half back at Leigh for a while. Can he pass though?

Agree that Stewart doesnt warrent his selection.............but cant agree about Reay - very good player and its not helping him to show how good he is cos the teams not settled yet.............too many centre/wing combinations for my likings........get em playing week in/week out together and this will change IMO.

We will have to agree to disagree on that one then. Reay is not a rubbish player and I do think he tries, but from watching Leigh this season and watching Reay for a number of years prior to him signing for you, I would not not describe him as very good rugby player. He flatters to deceive. He is average. He is not very poor, but I think he is struggling to adjust to first team rugby in the Championship. Apart from a brief spell at Donny last year,(where they did not really rate him) he has not played first team rugby before and I think he would admit he is finding it hard. I think he is round about twenty two or three years old now and has played very little pro rugby at 1st team level(only about ten games or so) He has suffered from playing far too much academy and reserve team Rugby League and too much low level Rugby Union. He really needed to be in a first team at the age of 19 or 20 years of age. Above all this, my argument is, that he and Stewart should not regularly be gaining a place ahead of the likes of Rudd. If Reay was an experienced campaigner at this level or an outstanding talent, I could understand him constantly being selected ahead of Rudd, but IMO that just is not the case. Why can Rudd not get a game at Leigh? It is a real mystery. It is not as if you have a lot of high quality centres. If I were him I would be gutted and would be seeking a loan move because at the moment, things just are not fair for him.

yh he can pass i think, i seen him pass a few times. tht would be a good move for kelly if he did that. stanton at 7, he would confuse defense and is quick from the hooker role when he needs to be.

Stanton would be a deadly 9 in my opinion. He will kill teams after a quick PTB. Does his distribution from dummy half need looking at though ?

Agree with the Donlan at 1 and Mort on the Wing too. He has to play, because he is a good support player and fantastic goal kicker.

We really do lack a cutting edge 6 though. Even someone who can move us around the pitch will do.

Our pack aint that bad, but a 6 we are desperate for (and maybe a 7!!

)