Not bad for a team that struggled to beat Wigan's reserves.

You mean competition , then again what exactly is it ?

The record books won't say "with a bit of a struggle" at the end of the scoreline though


Certainly wasn't a struggle today either.

We shall not be moved.

Better day for Halifax's super league application wasnt it? They oppened the new stand which may add a couple of points to their application, you dont get any franchise points for winning one national league game

Well done Leigh.

A great stand too, well done to those who made it happen.

Thing is though, Fax are out of the rail cup, got no 'ticks' last year <<EDIT - forget that I forgot you get one for losing the GF too

>>, and (from what I pick up from the Fax Forum) a team thats looks like there is something serioulsy wrong going on.

A half decent stadium or not, they're seriously going to struggle if they don't improve on the pitch.

I'd say Widnes are in front of Leigh to be honest and they deserve their chance. But i think Leigh can't be far behind Salford, Wakey, Cas and Quins.

Widnes are the favourites.

Great stadium.
Biggest fan base outside of super league.
Youth set-up has been sustained outside of super league.
Massive rivalry with Wigan, Saints and especially Warrington.
Already won the NRC.
Have a better record in super league than any other contenders.
Averaged 6,000 despite getting tonked every game one season in super league.
They spread the game outwards more than Leigh do.

I don't see how everyone keeps talking about Quins.
Something badly needs to be done there but as long as they're in business, they'll have a place.

Impressive yes, will it be welcomed with open arms from the mugs at the RFL? Who knows.



Although a nice pitch, this accolade still belongs to Belle Vue.



Once again all nice touches, will they all be considered towards Leighs bid for Super League? Or will they all be regarded as 1 point in the 'franchise criteria'?



Lets hope so, would be great to see Leigh in Super League! However 'nailed on' is not a term I would use at this moment in time.

So, their licence application will consist of one A4 piece of paper with the words "We are still in business" on it

LSV groundsman got "Groundsman of the Year" last year, did he not?

One could say that

I thought Leigh's youth system was a mess? Has it improved? The best way for Leigh to argue their case will be through the products that the local amateur sides always produce.

Anyway, come back when you get a rail link.

We haven't had an under 18 side for a few years, but there again 'Fax haven't got an Under 20's. We do operate under 15 and under 16 sides though, I believe.

The number of players who have played in our academy who are currently in our first team or playing elsewhere would certainly suggest that we don't do too badly in terms of bringing players through.

Forgot about that. Leigh had somewhere to train when the weather South. Maybe you're hitting the straps way too early like we did last season? Plus, you make no mention of just how awful Halifax were yesterday. Take nothing away, the best team won, but we'd have been beaten by anyone.

So the RFL would have you think, yes. So bad that its produced a good %age of our players over the last couple of years.

And who needs a train station, they're for peasants.

We've got Westleigh International instead.

Win the champ, avg 3,000+ and have a strong financial plan and you've every chance.

Yep that got CC in didnt it



Fantastic news on the financial front and a major signing to be announced in May, God its good to be a Leyther again after the past 6 years.
SL2012 here we come

After some lean years Im dead chuffed for Leigh. My NL 1 team.

I could have sworn that only about a month ago the Leythers were all doom and gloom and saying they were going to get relegated (again). It appears 4 dual contract players later and apparantly they're Championship favourites and they want a licence. Give it another month and they'll probably be crying again. Never known a set of fans to be as up and down as them.

I have, your lot at the start of last season and our lot right now!

none of the dual lot playin today and winnin 30 nil at Toulouse.

Beat me to it, but he does have a point!

I'd say Widnes and Leigh are pretty much neck and neck in the franchise stakes with the exception of a final appearance, and we should get that this year one way or the other.

Leighs intention was always to build to the franchise application, its just that we nearly blew it last year.
We are growing our own wood, unlike many others, and putting the structures in place behind a great coach and leader. We need to win back the speccies but that will happen as the season progresses.
Next year we will be much stronger again and no comments from Mr A Rowley anywhere in sight.
Watch out for some major announcements May/June time