I think you may have misunderstood what I said or I didnt get the point across that I was trying to make. Also just to add to what ant said, the post took me about 5 mins and I was probably a little harsh to a couple of players that are probably closer to SL standard than I gave credit for because of the time it took me to post. Anyway what I was trying to get across was that as a team I think the current players would struggle, obviously you will want to keep a core of players together and to miss the bottom 4 I think you would need to bring in a good 6 or 7 players to compliment the good ones you have.

Individually I think you could put most of your players in to lower or even mid table SL teams(Ignoring the ones I think are better than that) and they could do a job, but that is exactly the same as what could be said about nearly half the players at the top end of the championship but I do not think you can go up to SL with a team that has about 9 or 10 players who could simply 'do a job'

As I have said before I expect Leigh to make the playoff game in the middle 8 and to have home advantage against either Wakey or Bradford, the main problem comes then in that it is so late in the season that most players like to have contracts sorted before then so for that first year it could be hard to get in the quality of players that are required in which case you need to hope, like Hull KR did, that the majority of the current squad can do enough to avoid relegation the following year.

Makes me laugh on here people are so full of pion ions then whena opposition fan comes on and gives he's he is obsessed?? As it is I don't think Greg is too far off the mark! There's a couple I disagree with him on but he's talking a lot more sense than some of our own fans! We have got a very good team but bout half aren't good enough too step up wether you like too hear that or not! I think 6/7 too come in. With the likes of maden, aspinwall and some of the young hopefuls out. Goulden is a grafter but not good enough same with haggerty. I personally think this team will take us up but then we need too improve and a lot!!

I really do think that this team as it is, is good enough to win promotion and to stay in Super League. I don't think we'd finish bottom either but nor do I think we'd make the top 8. Wakefield & Widnes whenever I've seen them have been terrible, Hull FC don't look too good either, honestly think we'd probably finish around 9th or 10th with no changes to the team at all. Obviously that's not going to happen though, we want to do better than that; so with an extra £million from the RFL, £0.8 million salary cap & extra money from crowds Rowley will add to & improve the squad.

I am on the 'not quite enough' side, there are a few who are running amok in this division that will get a reality shock in the SL. We have built a team that is comfortably the best in the Championship but nowhere near good enough to stay up (if we get up). The blind optimism needs to be tempered with a touch of realism.
I think we may get past Salford on Saturday but again it is on a 'one off' basis.

If (and it's a big if) we do go up, it will be because we have competed with the bottom of SL over a 7 week period. I think it's been said elsewhere, there would probably be 5 or 6 let go, and the key would be replace them with players that would improved the match day squad of 17, not just the squad of 30.

We improved the team last year with 5-6 new players either in the off season, or during the season, and improved yet again this year with FFMM, Hock, Worthington, Dixon. Should be looking to make such an improvement again next year, regardless of what division we're in. Though I suspect we may lose 1 or 2 if we don't go up.

Reffy I agree anyone who knows me will know the players in the Leigh team I don't think are up to playing SL on a regular basis ,again your quote of Blind Optimism is true , for me we would need around 5 class additions to our current Squad to compete in SL,you only have to look at some of the so called weaker teams in SL who have some class players yet still are classed as weaker teams,I to think we have the players to beat Salford in a one off game but to compete week in week out we need a few class players.But I think both Paul R and Derek both know this and will act.

If I were a SL scout looking at Leigh id be looking at players in the age category of 22-26/27 and IMO we have the following young talents who could quite easily slot in to a SL side and realistically stay there for the next 5 years or so......................

Kes
Armstrong
Kay
Barlow

I also believe Tom Spencer and is young enough to get back up there and stay there if he can recapture the consistent performance levels he showed prior to his injury and whilst on DR from Wigan.

Hoppy fits the bill and I believe he will get his chance to play SL at some point weather that be back at Wigan or with ourselves.

The first year in SL we would need continuity so id be keeping as much of the current starting 17 together as possible and maybe trim the squad and add 5/6 top quality SL class players with the additional cap money SL brings.

Id be lining up in SL 2016 as follows something like as follows........

1. Greg
2. SL/ NRL winger
3. SL/ NRL winger
4. Armstrong
5. Kay
6. Kes
7. Riddy or SL/NRL Half
8. Moi Moi
9. Scotty Moore or other SL/NRL Nine
10. Hock
11. Dixon
12. Goulden
13. Barlow

14. SL/NRL Prop
15. Hopkins
16. Penky
17. Spencer

as someone who has winced through Aspinwall, Emmitt and Walker playing SL, i'd say the OP was well off the mark. the core of the Leigh side has the quality though.

This threads a lot like Alan Hansen’s 1995 quote “You can’t win anything with kids”

Lets trust in Fergie.

As always Andy your finger is on the Pulse

you know what it takes.SRW 1996 knows.

Reffy, in the nicest possible way, keep your snout out, pal.

And the length of time anyone has been posting on here is completely irrelevant to anything. I am entitled to have an opinion, put my views forward and ask questions, just the same as anyone else on here - regardless as to whether it's my 1st post or my 1000th.

Aye, and so do supporters of other clubs but you seem to find it strange that they should want to.



The point I was making is that some of these supporters are regular, good contributors and we shouldn't be too parochial.

Anyway, back on topic.

I think this thread has provoked some good posts. Lots of good debating.

For me, Rowley and Beaumont have built a great squad; and if they can keep improving at the rate that they are then SL, and staying there, isn't far away.

Playing exceptionally well at the moment and would definatley be a keeper and would pad out a quality SL squad.

By some people's reckoning, it would seem that Leigh have built a squad that's [itoo[/i [igood[/i for the Championship but [inot good enough[/i to stay up in Super League...

Quite close to my 'dream team' that post.

Exceptions though.
3 Wingers & 1 Centre ? Surely not ?

Ridyard stays but with an NRL/SL player to make both work for a place/cover.

Goulden ? - Now don't get me wrong here, I have nothing but admiration for the way he has given his all to the Club/Team, always at 200% in terms of effort & he seems to do it all quietly with minimum fuss. SL though I think might be a step to far, possibly.

Chris Hill returns.

You spotted the deliberate mistake



Chris Hill yes please he would fit the bill nicely



My rational behind Riddy/ additional half back is that I don't believe we could go up a division with all three pivots having no top flight expierience either in UK or ESL.

I just couldn't bring myself to leave Tommy out but agree SL is maybe a step to far at this stage of his career. Time will tell on that one he's never been in as good a nick though and still tops the tackle count most weeks and leads by example.

I remember him working for us a few years ago now when he was at Rochdale and asking could he finish early on a Friday afternoon. He had been up and down a scaffold all day banging light fittings in industrial units. Wrapped his tools up then went straight to St Helens and played against likes of Apollo Perelini etc and held his own and topped the tackle count.

I understand what your saying,I just keep reading people saying we require 6/7 good players bringing in, to compete.When realistically those numbers need doubling,if your to compete for top 8 in SL.

Everyones team sheet is based on players not getting injured,which won't be the case..So you need another 6/7 to be in place for the injuries..Thats what it would take to compete for top 8 in SL.

Being realistic from a championship sides point of view you could never draft that many potential SL players in,in such a small space of time.So you have to build accordinally,but still keeping the same mentallity as if Fui is injured he's replaced by Hock,if Liam is injured he's replaced by Des Drummond.

Thats living in an ideal world,so for the time being we should be looking to were to strengthen position wise but still keeping the same free flowing rugby but making sure we have an equal player to replace should injuries occur.

Without a doubt.

I would like to know where these so-called better players are coming from.

It's very easy to say "SL/NRL whatever" but who is available who would be willing to come.

Don't know much about the Australian scene, but as far as SL is concerned it seems to me we'd be picking from existing SL cast-offs or from the team that's relegated. Favourites seem to be Wakey, but who of their players would we want?

Off the top of my head the only lower end SL player I'd be interested in is Aaron Heremaia.

Well Fui was willing to come from a NRL team and Hock has just signed from a SL team despite us playing in Championship and in a Part Time competition so a Leigh team in SL would be able to top up this current squad with 4/5 maybe 6 top class players quite easily IMO.

I know discussions will be taking place and targets already identified and knowing Derek he will be aiming high and not at some of the journeymen type signings we made in 2005.

The key thing for me as I stated above is continuity so order of the day must be quality and not quantity if we are to make the next steps.

If it were down to me id be making enquiries now for Lee Gaskell and also someone like Kevin Brown from Widnes. If Bradford don't get up Gaskell will leave IMO and Brown is related to Hock so will know what's going on at Leigh.

In relation to Wakefield I know Matty Ashurst the back rower is highly rated by our coaching staff and Derek and he very nearly signed for us last year. I personally rate Craig Hall who can cover Centre/ Wing and even fullback. Not to Mention former NRL Half Backs Jacob Miller & Tim Smith. Plenty top quality players at Wakey lets not forget Liam Kay was a Wakey cast off, hes not that bad is he

Few people saying they think we're good enough to get up but not stay up, whole point of The Qualifier Super 8 is that if you're good enough to get up you're good enough to stay up. If we get up would mean going backwards in relation to the other Championship teams to go back down again.

Fair comment Andy, you're obviously better informed than me (not difficult!)

As far as SL is concerned you generally know what you're getting but the overseas lot can be risky. Too many IMO come for a holiday - look at Roy Asotasi who's done nowt for Warry in a season and a bit and Willie Tonga who's already looking like a mistake for Les Cats.

We've been dead lucky with FuMo (either that or Mr Beaumont really does know what he's doing

)

Good point about our 2005 signings also - the vast majority were woeful.