Any value in scouring for a "Marquee" Full Back, Stand off or Scrum Half ? Personally I feel we really need a specialist Full Back & a really good 6.

This might be happening already but with Leigh paying a fee for Ben Reynolds & having no less than 4 halves is this the team settled upon I wonder ?

Personally, though I like Ben & he was excellent in our Championship side I don't think paying a fee for Ben & cap space is great value. Ryan Brierley has never been & will never be a Full Back sonwhere do we go ?

I fully realise it's very early days & we have very tough opening fixtures, concerned that 8 or 9 games in we could almost be done for if the tide is not turned.

For clarity, I do feel that if we had Ellis, Bell, Peats & Elliot fit & playing then Leigh would be a stronger proposition (though none of us can really say how good the 3 imports will go for us).

Your thoughts appreciated.

I've said it before and i'll say it again, we need a top quality (marquee) halfback. Wallace is garbage for a start, and Brierley needs to be removed from fullback. Our next game Against the Giants, I would play Mullen at fullback (give him a chance),put Brierley at halfback (reluctantly), or on the wing to get rid of Tierney. Now, let's put Hellewell or any other 2nd rower at centre to remove Brand. Hudds for me isn't important at all but ,as we all know Degsey's dream is in the C Cup,and should be dismissed. Let's see what happens.

Leigh have a Marquee he is called Peats. Do you think he is here for a bag of kp nuts?

One of us is nuts, and I'm alright.

Watching the second game on Friday it was obvious that we are weak in the backs, as soon as Warrington started to throw the ball out wide we were stuffed.
I'm not going to name individuals but we need to strengthen up in the centre as both wingers are running in to support all the time, with the money D.B. and J.D have had available buying more players may not be an option.
I believe when we get a few players back we will improve and hopefully pick up some points, looking at the other teams, Salford. Wakefield and Hull K.R are probably in a similar position as us.

Drastic changes there Derek, I agree something has to be changed , I like Duffs statement saying it’s down to him , making no excuses , I don’t think Wallace is garbage either , a bit harsh there Derek , when we get the other troops back it will be different .Nowt been said about Elliot , is he still here ?I agree Brand does seem a bit out of depth , but it’s Wigan and Warrington we have played .

Hopefully things will change soon , have faith .Charlie knows .

Hi Ian, yeah probably a little harsh but, I've not seen anything to convince me that he has anything to offer with ball in hand or his kicking for that matter. Although I'm not convinced with Brierley in the halves, he did make an impression when swapped with Wallace. We need a General, creator, and someone to guide us round the park. Hood and Peats interchanging will help but for me a quality half is needed if we can get hold of one. Just look at Hull yesterday with Josh Reynolds before he had to go off. Anyway, we move on to next week. COYL

How much of the million pounds from Super League have Leigh spent, given the squad was already assembled prior to the news that we had been promoted?

I think I read somewhere that the strong squad assembled prior to the Super League news was based on last seasons season ticket money which was kindly donated to the club by supporters.

More players of real quality are required to supplement the hard working professionals already in the squad.

Has Elliott ever been here?

Watched Drew Hutchison and a teenager play in a winning Roosters team this morning so maybe half backs are not that easy to find anywhere ?
Not sure Wallace played NRL so no point looking in that lower grade pool? No one has come up with any names including them that think they know and me..

Fair point mate.We'll just have to go with what we have, and try to survive relegation.

[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake_Wallace#Playing_career[uBlake Wallace Career[/u[/url

[url=https://www.leighjournal.co.uk/news/19207917.leigh-centurions-injury-update-head-coach-john-duffy/[uInjury News Update[/u[/url

Well, I have had a change of heart. I thought I might put it over as politely as possible regarding our lack of quality in certain positions but here goes .....

1. Blake Wallace.

Has been appallingly bad in the opening 2 games, has shown no creativity with ball in hand & even worse from the boot. Early days so might turn it around.

2. Ryan Brierley.

Fantastic at finding space & pace in attack in the Championship but not a Full Back & only a Championship standard half.

3. Mellor.

I thought he might go well but looked out of his depth. Given he played injured, there might be better to come from him.

4. Tierney.

Always thought he was defensively weak & nothings changed, couldn't tackle a Happy Meal !

Positives.

Junior Sau to return so will strengthen our edges.

An ex player tells me that Bell is fantastic, really talented so hoping he gets fit & in at 13 !

Our Captain Liam Hood has been outstanding & if a 2 hooker game of Hood & Peats works it will lift the team.

I've zero idea how far away Elliot is from playing, signed while still recovering from a bad injury but his inclusion 'should' also strengthen our back line ! With Ellis also playing well before his injury there is light on the horizon !!!

Anyone who takes the field warrants our respect.
Players often get better sat in the stand.We supposedly have someone in oz who we trust to find us players of the right class and I guess at the right price.If the 2 recruits are on this persons steer then we will soon know if the owners faith is justified.
Anyone know who this is an agent/coach ?

Did we try to sign Ricky Leutele? Or have we made any attempt to sign Chase Stanley?

Elliot arrived March 15th. Picture of him standing with Derek was posted on Twitter.
I seem to recall Duffy saying he was 4-6 weeks out from being match ready (though I’m 100% on that).

I've already posted this.

[url=https://www.leighjournal.co.uk/news/19207917.leigh-centurions-injury-update-head-coach-john-duffy/[uInjury News Update[/u[/url

I’m sure there’ll be a response waiting for you tomorrow morning





And I very much doubt Peats is on marquee money or anywhere near it

Correct Col, he can't help making a fool of himself. Why? I don't know.

Back on topic, it appears that we are saving the super league money for later in the season. Is this good strategy?

Well I hope you are right , we do seem short on fit guys at the moment , and hopefully a couple of quality signings in mind , I have faith in Derek and Duffs , but as you say is leaving it late a good thing , I’m not sure .

How do, been following for a while but this is first comment. Firstly would like to say in the 2 SL games and the 2 pre-season friendlies the pack has fronted up well and whilst it contains mainly solid, hard working forwards I don't see them getting bullied by many teams this year. Obviously Hood has something a bit special and wouldn't swap him for many 9s in SL.
Our issue is in the backline. Our halves don't have anything to worry any SL defence. No urgency, slow in speed of thought and pass. Kicking game lacks imagination and execution making us easy to defend against.
Warrington have twice shown up our weakness on our right edge. Every try they scored at the weekend came down that channel. Currie offload to King/Ratchford then on to support. All the same. We have injuries to two big name centres in Sau and Elliott and Brand has been exposed. Hopefully the returning centres will tighten that right edge defensively.
Brierley is a 3 times failed SL player and should be nowhere near our starting 13, particularly not at full back. He is a liability in defence and i have not seen a full back duck out of making a challenge like he did on Hardaker for Wigan's last try since i was about 12. Kids don't duck challenges like that. We may have nicked the win if he made the challenge on Hardaker at the break rather than backing off allowing him to wait for support.
I know Ellis has problems defensively but he at least offers something going forward and his kicking game is inventive and solid and he should be straight in for Wallace when fit and may give us something but i agree that a quality half back is obviously needed. However i think our priority should be a specialist full back who will tighten us defensively and offer something going forward.
Anyhow, thanks for listening and lets hope things pick up for us. I think we have the makings of a competitive team and with some injury returnees and one maybe two more signings in key areas we should be ok this year.

$450k = £250k.. He’s a marquee. Also a millionaire in his own currency.

That’s a fair assumption. We desperately need a kicking game to take the pressure off the forwards. The pack isn’t beaten it just needs two organiser to keep work from them. Good cover with Peats for Hood. Wallace not there yet, but played with the best. Reynolds hopefully more training this week and Brierley showing if needs must back to halfback.

Players coming back at the right point of the season is detrimental to Leigh’s survival in SL.

We start with new debutants Flower and Peats.. Here we go.

So we’re paying him £250k

where you got that info from - best be flipping good if true

You questioned him not being a Marquee! I said he was.. Prove me wrong..

Edit: $450k was his Titans contract. You still think hes here for peanuts?

Not sure I need to prove anything to anybody on here TBH & his previous contact proves nothing - he has been available for a while and no-one took him so likely his demands have reduced

Neither me nor thee know his salary, but it’s not surprising I have a different opinion to you - most others seem to be the same on any subject you try to be argumentative over