Well, the first couple of games at Magic Weekend really shook the apple tree at the top table with all of the top six teams changing position. The third game, with no swapsies in the lower six, could be said to have merely shaken the Applegarth!

Leigh will spend this night in sixth place and, should results go against us tomorrow, could drop to seventh for the next few nights at least.

BUT…

Should we win by a narrow margin tomorrow we would be up to the heady heights of fourth. Furthermore, a win by 30+ would see us in the nosebleed territory of third. The latter scenario would also mean that, with more than half the regular season gone, “little old Leigh” would be sitting above Wigan.

Bongser does not take a win over Wakefield tomorrow as a taken, but he is surprised by the lack of positive posting on here (and of the general lack of posting).

COYL....

...and come on you posters!

Sure is tumbleweed city around here. I remember the heady days of this forum in the 2000's and 2010's when it was reet busy.

Okay then. Jack thinks that if we play half decently tomorrow then we will be third in the table at the end of the day. There you are, said it. The Gods of Fate will now descend and send logic crashing and a minor city in West Yorkshire will be celebrating its team's first league points tomorrow - not.

We are riding the crest of a wave and Wakey are in the merde! Cannot see anything other than a comfortable Leigh win. A half-fit, semi-retired David Fifita will not make a blind bit of difference. Words like 'straws' and 'clutching' come to mind.

Leigh to win and to put on a show on for the Sky cameras.

Bongser knew he could rely on you, Jack.

Only meeeeeee !
I do not think I want to say this, but
I’m predicting a 15 minutes of energy and passion from Wakey, followed by an ever quickening turn of the screw from the lads.
We will need to do the simple stuff early and go as error free as possible for that first 15-20, but we are simply too fit and fast for Wakey after that early stage.
Will we win by 30, that is very possible, but a win by less will do for me also. Day one has shown what can happen at this Magic Weekend. I honestly think that we will put the train back on the tracks for day two though.

Bongser, you had to go and say it. I was thinking it but I don't like to jinx it. I remember once calling my brother when Leigh were stuffing Bradford, by the end of the call, all the gloating was for nowt, because we conceded 18 or so points and only drew the game.

No fabulous boasts from Septi, just hoping for another win.

Having this afternoon watched the dirge served-up by that bunch of pie eating squatters with whom we share our gorgeous borough I'm just beginning to wonder whether Matty Peet might beat the equally clueless Applegarth & Last to be the first to get the sack. If he does then I suppose that he can go back to starring in Gavin & Stacey Christmas specials.

Last is saved, because they can always beat Leeds or Wakefield.

A very even 1st fifteen mins and a funny feeling wakey will score the first try but after that we will start to overwhelm them , the conditions will be great for us and a problem for wakey , fifita will be blowing very early and going off what the wakey fans say proctor will be blowing during the warm up.This season has been been about milestones and targets being ticked off so let's get our first ever magic win , get Charley back on top of the try charts and even go above Wigan by scoring 30 or so more points !

Proctor blowing during the warm up






Now you’re talking Bongser.
(I’ve got lots of eggs right now by the way and I’m sure I hear tapping noises).


I’m a very cautious guy but we have this one Septi.

What’s up with O’Donnell not playing. Nothing major I hope.

Back injury in captains run.

Sweet Jesus this ref is a nightmare. Wakeys game plan based on being a mile offside and he’s not even looking.
Then Reynolds sent off for a closed fist push to the shoulder that then goes into the neck with no force, AFTER FiFita had just done the same in the same confrontation.
THEN Nesbitt sent for 10 a tackle where momentum takes him quickly sideways and his feet naturally go with him. How is that a bloody hip drop.
One unhappy Leyther here at 04:45 in Vanvcouver. The guy is killing our game.

And now he calls the team with 11 players offside ffs.

Ive seen it all now.
Hardacker has to remind the ref that players have to be 10 metres at the penalty conversion.
Ref replies “Oh, yeh !” Then tells them to get back to 10 and not a player moves. All still within 10 at the kick.
Nobody takes this guy seriously

That”ll do pig !
I’m off back to bed. 6am for heavens sake

This 6 game winning streak in the league is now our second longest winning streak in the top division (since 2+ divisions were introduced in the 70's) and our longest since our 12 match winning streak en route to winning the league championship in 1981/82.

The first sentence is wholly agreed with, Vanners. But Bongser thinks that Ben's brainfart warranted what it got. Let Fifita wind him up (DF's only meaningful contribution all game), let his team mates down and ultimately cost us third spot. Out of character, yes, but so was Nene's provoked punch against Fev last season and (IBRC) that got him a four match rest. Hopefully the disciplinary panel can't meet before our early turnaround next Friday so Ben can face FC before serving the first match of his "holiday" against York.

Nisbet was unlucky. It was technically a hip-drop tackle but clearly unintentional and the "victim" (and, boy, did he play it) was unharmed and played on. Common sense SHOULD prevail and lead to no further sanction - but this is Rugby League! With Halton out long term, let's hope Kai's back is not too bad.

Disappointed not to nil Wakey - not ill-will but rather what it cost us. My though, (should that be "HIS" though) what an Herculean effort in defence for nearly three quarters of the game post red card.

Adrian Lam take another bow! And the lads of course.

Not quite the show for the cameras that we hoped for but in reality how could it have been with a numpty ref and down to 12 then 11 for a spell .Got annoyed with Ben for being sent off but we dont need to give him jip he,LL be doing that himself tonight we can focus on a huge team spirited performance by keeping a team all be it a poor team down to 1 try . Wanted that third spot ( am I being greedy ) but the table will sort it self out , if we beat hull and the pies come unstuck against the "real saints"that were on show today that spot will be ours and then boy will the season get really interesting!

Yes, I agree with both Bongser and Bobby. Ben was stupid. It was a red card offence and it could have cost us dear. At his age and experience he should know better but the red mist clearly came down.

I also thought he was very lucky to escape sanction for provoking the brawl at the hooter at the Warrington game when he needlessly piled in to Williams. That was a stupid reaction and was totally unnecessary yet he felt the need to needle Williams whilst he was already held up in the tackle and the hooter had sounded. Not very bright Benjamin!

The red card impacted upon what happened next for the remainder of the game. I think we got out of jail. We got away with one and occasionally still looked very slick. We will put on a show for the cameras one day. Just a shame it wasn't today. Ben can now reflect on that and it will be interesting to see what will happen if Mellor plays well during the suspension period. Joe may well play himself back in to the starting 13 when Ben is available to play again. If that happens then Ben will have even more to reflect upon.

I don't think Lammy was too pleased with his lack of discipline when he made reference to Reynolds in his half time chat to the utterly gorgeous Jenna.

What about FATFITA's punch?

Doesn't look good but Bongser thinks that it was a flat hand. Still needless afters from the Big Boffer (he spent most of his time on the field "blowing out of his Rs".)

Don't get to see too much rugby live, but made a special trip to magic weekend. Sharing a hotel with the wakey team last night and had a long chat with a couple of senior players in the sauna. They told a sorry tale of poor standards through the club and morale is absolutely rock bottom. They were all resigned to relegation already.
I was therefore very confident while I took my seat. I thought leigh were outstanding in defence particularly when down to 11. The camaraderie was palpable in the stands. The players belief in themselves was there to see. A magic effort. Reynolds got what he deserved. You simply cannot do that in today's game. I just hope his ban is not extensive. I fear it maybe. Still confused by Nesbitt's yellow. It just looked a fair tackle.
We quietly have a very good team. As I said preseason, our middles are as good as anyone, the left edge particularly is outstanding and our defence is right up there. For the first time in about 30 years I feel we might be about to compete at the top table and am more excited than a 52 year old has any right to be. This team has turned me into a small child again.
Onwards and upwards. Come on the leopards.

Looks clenched to me. Don't get me wrong, Reynolds was foolish. The yellow was poor decision. Ref was poor today also.

It does but only as Ben's jaw is showing though and (cameras always lie) "completes the fist".

Agree the ref was terrible today. Bongser's not a ref baiter, so we'll put it down a bad day at the office.