I thought our tries tonight were all good ones. We broke down featherstone defence and they were good to watch.

Just too bad we gave the game away by daft mistakes and penalties which put us under pressure.
The last thing we needed was giving up the ball and territory cheaply during the fourth game in less than 2 weeks.

We played some half decent rugby at times tonight and showed plenty
of effort but we are lacking a couple of big strong forwards
half back with pace ( hopefully we have signed one JW )
and a centre some of the players came out of that match against Fev
can hold there head up Mort being the pick of the bunch with Watson
not far behind our young winger also showed plenty of effort but we were killed after the fowards Hobbo in particular did,nt get on top at crucial times in the game we are only a couple of players away from being a good team but its finding someone to fill those gaps which should have been done pre season its gonna be hard to get decent players now
it should have been done in 08 RECRUITMENT is the word someone at the club is not doing their job..

Surprised you didn't mention Rudd TBH. Made a point of keeping a close eye on him and thought he was outstanding. Solid and strong in defence, and ran some good angles in attack (Durbins try the prime example). Gave Watson good options.

I like mort, but feel his positioning in defence is very poor. cast your mind back to the Haven game, Donlan won us that game with his positioning

I'd tend to agree, although last night he made two try saving tackles as the last man. I'm sure that will come with time and experience, hopefully sooner rather than later. Rarely is he able to take the ball on the full which costs him time to make more yards up field.

Well said - always thought he was our best centre.

Wouldn't of used the word outstanding but more solid and reliable. However, I think it was him who looked out on his feet when a kick through resulted in a try and he never moved to chase.

Mort saved us two definite tries, one when he was up against two attackers. That as a full back is a major asset and was pleasing to see. He always looks dangerously with the ball and his positioning will improve.

Cant believe Maden played again. Was Alstead not available?

Stanton worked his socks off.

Meekin was top drawer for me and IIRC he only missed one tackle when he flew in for the big hit.

Aaron Smith showed glimpses of what we have been missing and will only get better.

Donlan did okay but I feel for the last 5 off the first half and the second half he was carrying a leg injury which somewhat hampered his overall performance.

Hobson, did he do much or did I miss it? Must be replaced by Cookson in the next match.

Thought Reay had a stinker in defence (which I know a few of you have been saying he cant tackle a hot dinner)

Watson did okay but we need slightly more intelligent kicking rather than straight to full backs and wingers.

Hilly was solid but didnt have the same impact as recent weeks.

Armistead worked his socks off.

Taylor was below his capabilities.

Jock must ignore Kelly and take them on more as must Durbin.

We have to play the ball quicker than our oponents.

We have to stop giving teams picky backs up the field - and I know Hewer is a useless midget/umpalumpa but he cant be wrong all the time!

Kellys substitution timings again seemed strange and ineffective.

2nd half I was bored to tears until the last 6/7 minutes.

Overall I thought the effort was there but the execution was poor which has to be down to training. Doing the simple things repetitively in training helps things become the norm. Is this happenning?

Entertainment/value for money: 2/10.

I would seriously be happy to lose every week at the moment if I was being entertained.

Over and out!!

I watched the game when i got home and couldnt believe that half way through the second half we has used all 12 interchanges and Fev and only used 7/12 now with no players injuried is his choice of interchanging that bad?????

Oh, and another thing, thought 2300 was a decent effort for a Thursday night televised match but still thought there was more than 500 in the North and South as there were certainly 1800 (half full) in the West.

Maybe the "freebies" were not included - if so - fantastic attendance

Agree with your comments although i thought Maden played well took loads of ball up and looked eager .
Reay Hobson and Taylor only dissapointiong performers IMO
i like JT but he offers NOTHING on attack.

Whilst we are on the subject of forwards we are badly lacking some real 'go forward' and I'l probably get slated for this with youth on his side, but for all Mike Morrison's endeavour, can anyone currently name me a weaker prop at this level ?

We need to inject some grunt to lay a platform. What's Sebastian Martins up to these days. Having said that can the real John Cookson please stand up !!

There were 17 of us with freebies to the banqueting suite who then made our way onto the stands. We didn't go through the turnstyle and as such is doubtful we were included in the crowd number.

Don't think you give him enough credit TBH. Goes in hard and has a fast PTB due do being agile enough to get back on his feet quickly.
Can see him becoming a very good player over the next couple of years.
IIRC he went 80 yards yesterday - not many props at this level could do that.

And if you want weaker props at this level - I could name 2 from the Leigh team let alone other squads

Regarding Morrison and his 80 yard burst through the middle I think thats the first Leigh forward who has done that against Championship opposition this season and I agee about his quick play the ball.

All the lads need a rest and as we don,t play again till May 4th they will hopefully be better for it.

Yes possibly so, especially on the quick PTB, and he will undoubtedly improve considerably over time, but Chris Hill could give us most if not all of those attributes for now. I don't wish to single Morrison out but he's a little on the small side and does not currently give us enough go forward IMO. It's something (along with a quality HB) we need to address PDQ

PS I once saw Andy Leatham run 80 yards at Gigg Lane - And score

I missed Morrison out earlier and although a little lightweight he makes up for it with good honest heart and endevour and I personally had no issue with his contribution last night. I agree though that his size does not help. His break though was the best of the match from a Leigh player!!

Haggerty did some neat stuff but size again is not on his size but top marks for attitude and endevour.

Back to Maden, yes he was willing to drive the ball in but how often in the last 18 months has he broke the tackle or run round the opposition? I bet you could count them on one hand. Also, his apparent lack of willingness and urgency to chase back is beginning to do my health no good!

That makes the team for the next match if all fit:

Mort,Smith,Alstead,Rudd,Stanton
Donlan,Watson
Hill,McConnell,Cookson
Armistead,Taylor
Smith

Morrison,Durbin,Haggerty,Marsh or Wingfield

Oh and it wont happen but if it was up to me Hatton would be back from Blackpool and on the bench rather than Durbin or Haggerty dependant on which mood I was but probably instead of Durbin

Reay, Hobson and Maden have to paly in the reserves to find some form.

Hill - top tackler once again but played out of position out wide and didnt see much ball - poor coaching
JT - big heart but no forward impact
Armistaed - looks unfit, missed at least 4 tackles in the first half alone
Mort - not convinced as yet. Donlan as to be full back, thats why we signed him, again poor coaching
Agree with the rest of your assessment!

We CREATED far more last nite with Donlan @ S/O trouble is he didn't see enough of it, we need to sort out once and for all a No6 no use keep swapping and changing

So Hilly did not have the same impact - agreed
Armistead does look a little of the pace but did work his socks off
I have been shouting for Donlan at Full back but we have no answer to 6 as of yet so Mort to continue his apprenticeship at Full Back - saved us 12points all by himself yesterday

Its not often someone agrees with me to the extend you have

you said meekin was top drawer for you last nite but yet does not make your team for the next game ?

Reckon that could be very good coaching TBH, he could be devastating out wide like Sid used to do in his younger days. Pace and power, not scared of offloading, I prepare to be shot down here but I've always seen him as a second rower

Haggerty and Rourke both have the potential to be very skillfull forwards if allowed to show their skills (Haggy has been doing it for 2 years at Saints and prior to that in our 18's and Rourke was a revelation in the reserves at Widnes). Meekin is far ahead of Cooky in the 'pecking order' at the moment.

Meekin = Morrison

Morrison not necessarily dropped but I would give Cookson a run (I need to see what he can offer) and "rest" Morrison. If the wind changes I may even play with 4 props and not bother with Marsh/Wingfield.

Tough being an armchair coach but I would sit down with Mike and explain in full my reasons and the fact that he was still fully in my thoughts. He would be 18th man ahead of Wingfield/Marsh.I would also be telling Maden,Hobson and Reay that their performances recently have been a little lacking and I want to see them show me I was wrong in the reserves.

but has allways carried on regardless.As for strength,have him in the gym with Hobbo and Cooky and youl be suprised who comes out on top!Like Jock he works tirelessly in midfield,but his efforts go unnoticed and unapreciated.Yes I can think of loads of weaker props at this level and lazier and gutless ones to!!!BUT THEY DONT GET SINGLED OUT BY THEIR OWN FANS!

Agree with that he can drag 3 or 4 forwards in the middle so sticking him out wide running at a centre when in attack he could be devastaing especially close to the line, problem is if we put him at second row which prop would give the same go forward as he does?

I think the criticism of morrison is ridiculous! not a forward on the team helps us get a roll on with a quick PTB as he does! he takes it up hard, finds the floor, and plays it quick, and as we know, McConnell revels in this style of play! But, we also nead a tackle breaking front rower to compliment the lightweight morrison i feel, and Hobson is not it. Maybe chris hill in the front row? but i agree that he was also very effective out wide! On the whole, i feel that we are seriously lacking confidence, giving away soft tries is hard to watch as a fan, but can you imagine what it feels like as a player? working as hard as you can all week on such aspects of the game, then having a veteran prop hit, spin and dump the ball beside the sticks as did dickens? or having the opposition winger pick your pocket because you switched off for a minute as happened to rudd? and then you come home and read some of the stuff on here! our team is dominated by youth, which as anybody in the game worth listening to brings inconsistency, add to the fact your playing in a new stadium, with a new coach in his first FULL season in charge topped off by the fact that the majority of your team-mates are new to you this season! it takes time, and yes, at the moment we are poor, but i really think that this group of players, given time beyond the first 7 games of the championship season, will develop.