The head injuries that he was suffering with before we signed him?

He does look a decent player but we've loads of forwards. Some may not be as good as him but we have them. Combine Mathers and Lovegrove's salaries plus whatever cap space we have left and who knows, we may have been in a position to attract somebody like Soward.

I get your drift. He only played two games for Leigh, so we couldn't really judge how good he was. Saints fans seemed to rate him, although it doesn't look like Cunningham does.

Mind you, he doesn't seem to rate Burns either. Fifty minutes at Whitehaven also isn't enough to judge him, but they were probably the best 50 put in by a Leigh scrum half so far this season!

I hope Charnock does well for you - I'm sure he would love to prove something to Saints!

If he does he'll be back there in time for the 8s.

Let's be honest, the coach making that decision isn't exactly doing well at the moment. This is the same coach who preferred playing Jordan Turned instead of Theo Fages for the first 2 months of the year. SL coaches seem to love playing second-rowers instead of giving young HBs a go.

I would be disappointed if he left after a month. But if he helps us secure our place in the top 4 then I'll be happy. If hes not getting in now then I can't see him getting in in a months time when Walsh is fit. Cunningham seems to have the stubbourness of Jimmy.

For me he was more of a hooker/SH than a stand off.

He will get lads running off him which you ae missing

Think we have to accept the month for what it is, but if everything works out, we can hope to extend the loan, or maybe more.

If it's true that Cunningham doesn't rate him then his position at Saints isn't going to be any different, so maybe he might want to go where he'll get some gametime - didn't Saints once have another halfback, in a similar position, not rated by the coach etc, think he was called Gaskell or somesuch, I wonder whatever happened to him..

Last I heard he donated his body to medical science.

<runs away>

Regarding halfback signing I think it might be really tough for you, as I see it Bradford don't have enough money to go big and even the clubs with money seem to be struggling to get good half backs. Hull are a good example of this bringing in every young halfback they could from Oz. Quality halfs in OZ can command big fees so you have to look at reserve grade. Leon Price signs for one of the richest clubs in the league, don't get me wrong he is good but only a short term fix.

Smith might have connections but bringing in Oz players is expensive, they need a car, they need a home etc.

Hudds took a punt on RB young halfback could make it at fullback of stand off. But there aren't that many English 7's Gale, Matty Smith, Sneed. Good luck going forward but I feel it maybe a struggle to fill the spot left by Gale and still not yet properly filled

That should certainly keep them busy for a while.

So Ridyard has gone to Wakefield on loan. Honestly this is getting beyond ridiculous now, you couldn't make this stuff up!
Were we in for him? Did Wakey offer more? Did Derek not want him to come to us?

Irrelevant really, the frustration continues.

That is genuinely hilarious. I'm actually startling to like Derek for being the grade A c nut that he is.

There was no way Leigh would have let him come to us. Why would you strengthen one of your promotion rivals significantly?? Even if Green and Beaumont were best pals, it wouldn't make sense Ridyard coming to us from Leigh's perspective. It's still only for a month which suggests to me that if Wakey end up looking like they will be in the middle 8s, then i reckon Ridyard will be recalled.

The deals not even done yet i don't think.

Precisely. Let's be honest, Leigh wouldn't loan us any players, and we wouldn't loan them any. And I have no doubt at all that if this deal happens, there'll be a stipulation in there preventing Ridyard from playing against Leigh should they end up together in the Super 8s.

Can't see why Leigh shouldn't help out the sixth place team, probably be in different divisions in a few week. We should help keep their players fit for them if it helps us at same time

Believe we, Leigh, have just taken Bateman to the end of the season and until everything has gone through are not announcing the Ridyard deal to Wakey

Wow that would be a huge story if it turns out to be true. Would probably mean the end of Bateman's Wigan career also.

That story/rumour was doing the rounds like wildfire, up at Whitehaven last Saturday - the Bateman one that is, not Ridyard.

Great capture by Leigh if it comes off. Degsy's certainly putting his money where his mouth is and it'd need to be a lot of money.

Tiny bit of me was hoping that Bateman would come back to his hometown club. If Leigh pull that off I think they will be promoted.

Ah but the original Bateman post was by Maurice. It's very very rare that his posts are serious guys. Sorry Neil

I don't see why. Didn't we swap him for a bag of crisps?

I have took the lead from the general RL reporters sanctum, and translated a rumour as probable - now stop spoiling my fun.

So Bradford's half back issues will be sorted by John Bateman joining Leigh on loan?

That would be a complex and cunning plan