Tough good game to start with. Leigh have picked up a few SL players and as a team they’ll be fired up for this one. Can’t wait!

Can’t wait. Hopefully be in a much better place in 6 weeks time with the vaccines. Hoping to be back at the DW in a mask and sat in bubbles in June.

Let's hope we welcome them back to SL by giving them a hiding.

You probably will, 12 of our squad haven't played a game since March last year

Getting your excuses in early

To be fair recent history shows that Leigh can play average/awful for long periods of a season and then out of nowhere magically turn in a 1982 Kangaroos test team performance when lined up against us.

They've had plenty of time to get fit then.

Have Leigh ever played a cup final this early in the season before?

Don't think so....

[url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/rugby-league/new-signings-help-leigh-see-off-wigan-in-pre-season-friendly_sto5063258/story.shtmlMassive day in Leigh history[/url

Sound. Give Leigh a spanking. Good way to warm up for the season ahead

Bearing in mind that re-arranged midweek fixtures are still a big possibility, and as well as missing players through COVID at some point, it would serve us well to have as many players as possible ready to step up. I'd be tempted to give Hanley (or Halsall, not both) and Kilner a run in this one to give them some experience and get an idea whether they will be ready to step up against better opposition. I know it's a risk but better than throwing them getting their second games at short notice against a top team.

Agree with you there grimmy especially regarding Kilner who's flying under the radar a little bit,because although he's still young for a prop he's missed a fair bit of time out with injuries which has probably helped in a way by letting his body develop more naturally. He certainly stood up to bully boy L M S when he played against saints and didn't look out of place I think he's one who can really kick in this season

I’d give Kilner a run, he turned up well v Saints IMO. Hanley I’d be tempted to send him out on loan for a season, he has loads of promise but isn’t quite there yet. I don’t think throwing him in, even against Leigh, would do him any good

You could be right. Hanley looked well out of his depth v Saints. I do think we need someone ready to step in early in the season though for if Manfredi or Bibby were to get injured/track and traced.

Am I missing something here? Surely R1 we play strongest team possible from players who are 100% fit...there’s more than a few who love a good moan on here when we don’t turn up against the lesser teams when we’ve rested a few (particularly under Wane). Potential banana skin if we don’t go full strength here.

Another thing with naming a weaker squad for me is that it only ever gives bigger motivation to the oppo & belief that they can come away with a result. I’d rather Leigh be looking at this one daunted at the prospect of getting a proper belting.

I agree it's a risk and probably won't happen. I'm just thinking of the bigger picture in terms of having players ready when called upon, particularly with the likelihood of players being missing through track and trace, and having extra midweek fixtures. Playing our strongest side every week is what led to Jack Murphy getting his second ever game at short notice in a play off against Leeds, which played a big part in us losing that day.

Spot-on mate. Points on the board count.

Ben is a big unit and with a full pre-season I expect him to start pushing for a place in the team.

We should be picking our best side for at the very least the first 6-8 weeks of the season. We need to set a tone and the players will be coming off the longest pre season for many years, so they should be really fresh and in good shape. Natural chances will come for the likes of Kilner when injuries and suspensions hit and then eventually players will need the odd rest.

Agreed. Strongest side for the first few weeks. Get the new partnerships working, set a marker down and then look to bring players in when we have the points on the board.

Leigh might beat us. They’ve shocked us before so we must play our strongest team.

Didn't they murder us last time we played ? One of those inexplicably awful performances we'd chuck in every year under Wane.

we had plenty of injuries that day, was gillys first game back and he only played the first half