HNY 2U2 VL. A month and two days to go. Can't wait!

Bolton won three-baht, Utd beat City, Wiggin dropped two (MORE) points, Celtic won and both sets of Scousers lost. What's more, Bongser is half seas over with tomorrow fallow. A decent day on the whole but RL needs to return if life is to have real meaning

What’s with the coded message Bongser, and the round ball, it’s the oval ball that matters , I can’t wait for the coming season , hopefully add a couple of players yet , I have faith in Derek and Lammy but I do think we will struggle this season and will just avoid the drop , I feel a 1st game win will help us , I’m predicting 11th spot .

A spine of Hardaker, Lam, Ipape, Asiata coached by Lammy doesn't finish anywhere near the bottom... cant believe people predict 11th... come on Charlie and Snowy have the faith

I do have faith Ste, but someone has to finish bottom , I’m sure Wakey fans don’t think they will finish bottom ,or HKR fans but someone has to .
Yeah as a spine the players you name are quality , add to them a couple of others , but some of our fringe players are very inexperienced ,some weren’t good enough last season for the championship ,anything is possible ,Ste you are a betting man as indeed I am ,I think Constitution Hill will win the Champion Hurdle , but it’s possible he might not ,Wakey might surprise a few folk as might HKR , I just think it’s a difficult season ahead .

it defo wont be easy mate but look at the other squads and check their numbers 14 upwards.... all elements of risk i actually think we have more experience than some after numbers 13.... outside of st helens who has a better spine than us? exciting times and there wont be many other clubs bar us with cash to spend...

Although I agree about Clubs not having cash to spend or vacant overseas places , we only have one overseas spot vacant ,then it’s a case of where the other players are going to be signed from , hopefully we will have a bit of luck with injuries ,I think a good start is vital to our season .

injuries are key for everybody mate, theres always fall outs, unrest etc there be plenty available throughout 2023

I will be honest, i think it will be the most open SL ever. Not many points will separate the bottom 6, but i see Wakey not doing the great escape this time round. Pity, as it is only now they are finally upgrading Belle View.

We just need to stay up and consolidate. 8 wins should do this and our Home form needs to be spot on. There will be some right silly scorelines !!

A lot of time ,effort ,and money has gone into the rebrand and plans to help Leigh stay up this time , I truly hope it doesn’t fall on Stoney ground .
I have faith , and don’t think we will go down , but I do think we will struggle,,yeah we have some quality players , but we have some just number makers , let’s hope other become available as the season progresses.

Quote ="Teh Grauniad" The BBC has found Gary Lineker in breach of the broadcaster’s own impartiality guidelines after he tweeted about the Conservative party taking money from Russian donors. The Match of the Day presenter made the comment in February while responding to the then-foreign secretary, Liz Truss. She had said English football teams should not play in the Champions League final then to be held in Russia, due to the invasion of Ukraine. Lineker quote-tweeted Truss’s demand with the observation: “And her party will hand back their donations from Russian donors?” '" Charles (Happy New Year, hope you are well?), Bongser only mentions the man with the "spherical" balls (didn't see that infamous instalment of MOTD so can't say for sure ) because he noticed today that The Beeb has (as long ago as October '22) posted a Super League table for '23: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-leagu ... ague/table As you will notice, every teams performance stats are at zero. If the placings were based on alphabetical order, by this soul's reckoning, Leigh would be in 7th - but they are placed 8th. Random? Not with Saints top and Wigan in the play-offs! Mind you, Wakey are there too! Auntie should summon Dave Woods back from 'is 'ols to explain this and hopefully categorically deny that IMG have already deemed it thus.

Quote ="Teh Grauniad" The BBC has found Gary Lineker in breach of the broadcaster’s own impartiality guidelines after he tweeted about the Conservative party taking money from Russian donors. The Match of the Day presenter made the comment in February while responding to the then-foreign secretary, Liz Truss. She had said English football teams should not play in the Champions League final then to be held in Russia, due to the invasion of Ukraine. Lineker quote-tweeted Truss’s demand with the observation: “And her party will hand back their donations from Russian donors?” '" Charles (Happy New Year, hope you are well?), Bongser only mentions the man with the "spherical" balls (didn't see that infamous instalment of MOTD so can't say for sure ) because he noticed today that The Beeb has (as long ago as October '22) posted a Super League table for '23: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-leagu ... ague/table As you will notice, every teams performance stats are at zero. If the placings were based on alphabetical order, by this soul's reckoning, Leigh would be in 7th - but they are placed 8th. Random? Not with Saints top and Wigan in the play-offs! Mind you, Wakey are there too! Auntie should summon Dave Woods back from 'is 'ols to explain this and hopefully categorically deny that IMG have already deemed it thus.

Quote ="Bent&Bongser"Charles (Happy New Year, hope you are well?), Bongser only mentions the man with the "spherical" balls (didn't see that infamous instalment of MOTD so can't say for sure ) because he noticed today that The Beeb has (as long ago as October '22) posted a Super League table for '23: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-leagu ... ague/table As you will notice, every teams performance stats are at zero. If the placings were based on alphabetical order, by this soul's reckoning, Leigh would be in 7th - but they are placed 8th. Random? Not with Saints top and Wigan in the play-offs! Mind you, Wakey are there too! Auntie should summon Dave Woods back from 'is 'ols to explain this and hopefully categorically deny that IMG have already deemed it thus. '" Happy New Year Bongser, yeah I’m feeling good ,a lot better than pre Christmas , things are going well for the Carolis at the moment , we got some great news last week , but can’t say anything yet , just got back from a night in Scouse land , been to the Cher Show , it was brilliant , now I’m ready for the LSV show on Sat, hopefully a Leopards win , got my new shirt ready .

Quote ="Bent&Bongser"Charles (Happy New Year, hope you are well?), Bongser only mentions the man with the "spherical" balls (didn't see that infamous instalment of MOTD so can't say for sure ) because he noticed today that The Beeb has (as long ago as October '22) posted a Super League table for '23: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-leagu ... ague/table As you will notice, every teams performance stats are at zero. If the placings were based on alphabetical order, by this soul's reckoning, Leigh would be in 7th - but they are placed 8th. Random? Not with Saints top and Wigan in the play-offs! Mind you, Wakey are there too! Auntie should summon Dave Woods back from 'is 'ols to explain this and hopefully categorically deny that IMG have already deemed it thus. '" Happy New Year Bongser, yeah I’m feeling good ,a lot better than pre Christmas , things are going well for the Carolis at the moment , we got some great news last week , but can’t say anything yet , just got back from a night in Scouse land , been to the Cher Show , it was brilliant , now I’m ready for the LSV show on Sat, hopefully a Leopards win , got my new shirt ready .

Good to hear you are doing well Charlie. Whatever the good news is, congratulations. Good news is always worth celebrating.
Give the lads a cheers from me in the new shirt.

Good Morning VL , I hope you are well.?Leigh resembles Vancouver this morning ,it’s very white , cold,with a dusting of the white stuff, Ihope the LSV is ok for Saturday,it must be hard for you being so far away from the LSV .
I will deffo give the boys a cheer for you Saturday, can’t wait to sit in my usual place in the West Stand .My new shirts are already to wear , even got a Leopards scarf , very smart .
Anyway keep posting ,hopefully see ya on yer next visit .

Glad you OK, Charlie. Well, enjoy your leopard skin leotard while you can cos come the great financial crash of '23, DB will be looking to offload the Leopards. My cryptocurrencies and gold and silver investments will have skyrocketed and I will buy the underfed Leopards for a cut down price. The newly acquired Leopards will be attired in a traditional cherry and white rugby shirt. Match days will be on a Saturday with a 3pm KO. Transport to all away matches will be free to all supporters on subsidised coaches. All kids will be given free entry to games. 16 to 18 Yr £5 entry. The Legends bar will be returned to the fans. After I have purchased the LSV, a larger 'Mick Martyn' type bar will be built for the fans. I will take them to Challenge Cup success and Super League titles, and DB's reign of terror will be consigned to history.

I can dream

In the real world, after almost 60 years of support, my attendance of Leigh games will be via NOW TV cos I can't do Friday night KO. Enjoy the games, Charlie. See if I can spot you on't telly.

Well Graham, I have to disagree with yer prediction or vision whichever, for me Derek is here for a while yet , I hope so anyway , yeah I’ve bought all the attire and a couple of gold packages, I can’t wait for Saturday, it’s a pity you can’t make the homes games , i to have been a supporter for over 60 years now,hopefully many more .
I’m feeling a lot better now , I have been unwell for a while now,but have been more positive in my mind and the Family are helping me be positive,I think we can really do well in SL , but it won’t be easy , I have faith though .

I hope they stay up and prosper. IMG will probably kibosh it when they show their real agenda. I'll lose interest not being able to get to games. There is a big worldwide financial crash coming though, Charlie, so you never know DB may hit hard times and I'll save the day haha

Really hope you stay up, I think you have a bottom 2 squad along with Wakefield.

HKR I believe will be fine.

It’s a shame Ferguson couldn’t keep out of trouble as he would have been an asset in SL.

Think you need to lower your expectation with Hardaker too.

He is excellent defensively and a good ball carrier, but quite slow and has a beyond terrible passing game (unlike what the modern fullbacks need).

Lam realised he needs to play centre during his spell at Wigan, not sure where he’ll be lined up for you.

Your recruitment strategy seems to be players Warrington didn’t want to keep (after they finished 2nd bottom)

I still think Charnley can play but a soon to be 33 year old Tom Briscoe stands out of a panic signing.
Good luck!

well this thread made interesting reading...

I'm certainly pleased to be proven wrong. I think I just get used to watching them get promoted, expect a good season in SL but then we get relegated, so didn't expect anything but the same, especially with such a small squad. I think all the backroom staff deserve a round of applause for keeping the players in prime condition, and what can you say about Adrian Lam - absolutely brilliant coach to forge a team of newbies into a top SL team with a tremendous team spirit. Congratulations to all concerned.

Seems odd quoting myself. 6 or 7 games to stay up, I was really wanting to say 10 pts for safety but erred on the side of caution. Castleford are looking safe on 12 pts.

I predicted a bad season for Leeds and Warrington. Leeds are in disarray with what looks like a terrible recruitment policy. Warrington lost their manager and are currently in a dogfight for the play-offs.

Wigan and Saints to finish top was a lazy prediction.

I think I also asked would you settle for Challenge Cup and Relegation or SL survival? just shows what a good season Leigh are having.

Nostrabongser was a bit off the mark.

More than happy to eat my words - Charnley and Briscoe have been brilliant

I hit the mark with Wakey going down (or at least it looks that way) but definitely under estimated where we would be. I said 8-9, or maybe even 7th at a push. Very, very happy to be wrong and never dreamed I would watch us win at Wembley this year. I $id also say that Leeds, Cas, Hull and Wakey would be below us, but thought HKR would be the dark horses for top 6 or higher finish. One team that has surprised me is Cats. I thought that their team looked older and this year they may struggle a little more. They have been very good but look a little jaded as the playoffs role in.
I think we finish 4th now and hope we play Salford. Bogey team I know but have way too much for them right now.
Great season no matter what happens from here forward
Thanks everyone at the club, owner, coaches, players and all. You have made an old guy very happy

A thread very enjoyably resurrected (and therefore not against AUP).

As for NostraBongsus, Sep, the only hope in this heart pre-season was that Leigh would stay up. They have done - and in spades.

Derek said back then that Leigh were not in SL merely to survive but to compete for a top six place. They already have done - whilst, after Salford beat Wire this weekend, top six is yet to be guaranteed.

Vanners, you said 7th at a pinch (or similar wording). 7th would now be a disappointment!!

Top soothsayer award, for Bongser's lack of money, goes to Manx Leyther (with Tipster Ste beaten by a short head - and B&B pulled up and humanely destroyed - a happy death).

7th would definitely be a disappointment BnB.
To try and claim some Mystic Meg points I can go back to Mar 03 in the Get In There Josh thread.
“said it before and will say it again. Josh will be right up there in the try scoring charts this season. He looks to be in the best shape for many years, and he has always been a class finisher and a workhorse coming away from our own line”
After the first HKR game away.
As SS said, our two wingers have been very good to say the least. As has what we almost all thought was a light weight pack.