You can't turn out with the attitude of coasting as you will get hurt in this sport. 34 players will give it their all tomorrow

I agree Maurice,tends to be some mind games going on here.

Should be a great game then. Here's hoping that can be achieved without the brawls like in the game at LSV.

Out of interest, we'll have four - possibly five - playes involved, who didn't play at ours:-

Gareth Hock, Andrew Dixon, Mickey Higham and Tom Spencer, and possibly Jonny Pownall.

I'm not sure Jimmy Lowes is that clever. I suspect that he set a target and congratulated the players on achieving that. All along he has stated his mantra...it's not how you start, it's how you finish. I know a lot of our fans get worked up about him and his communication skills but if he gets us over the line all will be forgiven. I'm sure we all could do a better job, obviously. Were it possible it would make perfect sense to just hand over the points to Leigh but I think the players would go on strike. They will want to play despite risking injury or suspension. That's the difference between me and them........ We can't afford many more injuries when we embark on the culmination of several months preparation.

There is difference even between it not really mattering and not believing they can win a match. All Jiimy is saying is that although they're turning up to get a win, the result isn't all that important in the grand scheme of things. I'm sure what he is looking for is a big improvement in recent performances from his players.

JIMMY LOWES HAS NEVER BEEN A PLAYER OR COACH WHO DIDN'T WANT TO WIN. IT IS NOT IN HIS NATURE. WE HAVE ONLY BEEN GOING FOR 7 MONTHS MIRACLES WILL TAKE A LITTLE LONGER.

and the benefit from the hard work won't be seen in the Leigh game but will be felt later.

To be honest, I wouldn't be shocked to find they have been in full pre-season mode since second spot was tied up. Whatever happens though, we desperately need the the halves back in the fold or we won't have any chance.

,though I've not seen one who looks ready for 'higher things' as yet, but that has been the biggest difference, imo.

Agree totally. Ruck speed especially is a disgrace most weeks. Leatherbarrow and Bloem seem to have been the best this season. They at least talk to the players and keep more control. Merrick the worst of a bad bunch IMO.

Matt Thomason was the best but I think he got promoted to SL then fell out with the men in charge and quit.

Warren Turley has been injured as has Ginger George Stokes so I think we have had a few officials bumped up from lower down the usual 'pecking order' to the Championship this season... and you can tell!

Your in second place in the championship after only 7 months.I don't see the Broncos in contention,why would you need a miracle?
It's happening now..WHY WAIT!

This is taken from the Graniud www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/j ... ames-lowes Lowes revealed he holds little concern about the side’s recent form, instead insisting that he is looking at the bigger picture: promotion back to Super League at the first attempt. “Fans want to see us win but if it doesn’t quite go as planned then they have not got to be so disappointed,” he said. “We’ve got to get through these next two games and prepare ourselves for the middle eight. If we have to sacrifice not being at our best for the next two games in order to win promotion, what would the fans rather have?”

This is taken from the Graniud www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/j ... ames-lowes Lowes revealed he holds little concern about the side’s recent form, instead insisting that he is looking at the bigger picture: promotion back to Super League at the first attempt. “Fans want to see us win but if it doesn’t quite go as planned then they have not got to be so disappointed,” he said. “We’ve got to get through these next two games and prepare ourselves for the middle eight. If we have to sacrifice not being at our best for the next two games in order to win promotion, what would the fans rather have?”

Quote ="Blotto"This is taken from the Graniud www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/j ... ames-lowes Lowes revealed he holds little concern about the side’s recent form, instead insisting that he is looking at the bigger picture: promotion back to Super League at the first attempt. “Fans want to see us win but if it doesn’t quite go as planned then they have not got to be so disappointed,” he said. “We’ve got to get through these next two games and prepare ourselves for the middle eight. If we have to sacrifice not being at our best for the next two games in order to win promotion, what would the fans rather have?”'" I'll take promotion. My only real concern is that I'm not convinced that Lowes can lead the team to that goal

Quote ="Blotto"This is taken from the Graniud www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/j ... ames-lowes Lowes revealed he holds little concern about the side’s recent form, instead insisting that he is looking at the bigger picture: promotion back to Super League at the first attempt. “Fans want to see us win but if it doesn’t quite go as planned then they have not got to be so disappointed,” he said. “We’ve got to get through these next two games and prepare ourselves for the middle eight. If we have to sacrifice not being at our best for the next two games in order to win promotion, what would the fans rather have?”'" I'll take promotion. My only real concern is that I'm not convinced that Lowes can lead the team to that goal

Unfortunately there is a lot more than the ability of the coach that militates against us getting promotion. There are 8 coaches Involved and 4 will fail. As it's not a level playing field the failure of aSL club to retain their spot would be a sad indictment of the coach...or is it not that simple. I didn't expect promotion this year but next year we need to show progress and we need to know how to identify that progress.

That said, this year could be an excellent opportunity for you, (and us at Leigh) the way things are at Wakefield and Salford, at the moment. Of course, we then have to see off 'Fax, who are in form, and Sheffield!

Realistically, promotion this year, particularly under this new system, was always going to be a long odds bet. Even for Leigh, who with time to prepare were always the obvious candidates, are definitely on the outer when it comes to taking on the SL clubs - even if many of their fans are a bit on the gung-ho side!

Do we have a chance? Well, yes - of course we do, where there's life there is always hope, but it's a pretty slim one, and even slimmer with no half-backs.

Quote ="Blotto"This is taken from the Graniud www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/j ... ames-lowes Lowes revealed he holds little concern about the side’s recent form, instead insisting that he is looking at the bigger picture: promotion back to Super League at the first attempt. “Fans want to see us win but if it doesn’t quite go as planned then they have not got to be so disappointed,” he said. “We’ve got to get through these next two games and prepare ourselves for the middle eight. If we have to sacrifice not being at our best for the next two games in order to win promotion, what would the fans rather have?”'" He's right in principle. The trouble is we've fallen so far out of top form that switching it on in the Middle 8s will be very difficult.

Quote ="Blotto"This is taken from the Graniud www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/j ... ames-lowes Lowes revealed he holds little concern about the side’s recent form, instead insisting that he is looking at the bigger picture: promotion back to Super League at the first attempt. “Fans want to see us win but if it doesn’t quite go as planned then they have not got to be so disappointed,” he said. “We’ve got to get through these next two games and prepare ourselves for the middle eight. If we have to sacrifice not being at our best for the next two games in order to win promotion, what would the fans rather have?”'" He's right in principle. The trouble is we've fallen so far out of top form that switching it on in the Middle 8s will be very difficult.

Team:

Shaw
Williams
Blythe
Henry
Caro
Purtell
Addy
Clough
AoB
Sidlow
Olbison
Pitts
Walker

Lauaki
Crossley
Walshaw
Mendeika


Purtell at 6


Adam doing another 80 minute stint at hooker too it seems

If we had a kicking game and one of Gaskell/Mullaney we would be streets ahead.

Hope Leigh carry this mentality into the 8s

More interested in settling scores and going in high than playing rugby - it was expected though. Not sure how there hasn't been a sin binning.

Still not confident we will win this one with no halfbacks but good first half and we did our best to not get dragged into a brawl again.

Only a matter of time till there's a brawl IMO. Childs not strong his authority on game at all. Pleased with effort were putting in so far.

I'm not worried if we have to play them in the 8s - we'll batter them if any halves are fit to play.

I would be worried going into the 8s if I were Leigh conceding 36 points against a side with no playmakers. Embarrassing!

Apparently they were going to beat us easily and that was with Gaskell!

Still lots of work for us defensively if we want to push any of the SL sides but much better than last week.

Yes scoring 36 points with no halves is pretty good

We should be very confident going to Leigh in the 8s

What a game!

Did Gaskell play at the LSV earlier this season. Also the players you had today won't be wanting to lose their place so played out of their skin. Either way it adds spice to the middle 8s. Hope both teams can get up but that could be difficult. Incidentally was there a brawl?

Bit like the old days! Great crowd of nearly 10,000 in the sunshine, two decent teams slugging it out toe to toe for 80 minutes, you can't really complain. On the day, a draw was probably a fair enough result, but Leigh should never have ended the game with 13 men on the field. The headshot on O'Brien was surely worthy of a red, for starters, but not even a sin bin? WTF?

Having complained about that, it was refreshing to have a SL ref in charge, the difference was plain to see, and he was determined to let the game flow as much as possible, but didn't miss any key calls.

With no halfbacks against the much-vaunted Ridyard and Co., you've gotta take that performance.

The only thing that disappoints me is the singing. Sure, we make plenty of noise, but having missed the opportunity earlier in the season to sing Uiasele (to the tune of Rod Stewart's "We are sailing", we have now missed the chance to sing "Omari" to the tune of Volare!

"Omaaaaaari
Caaa-ro

Omaaaaaari
Caaa-aa-aa- ro

mari, Omari Caro
Omari, Omari Caro

I did sing it on my own though.