mean't Liam Kay

well you got half his name right.....must be all that free ale you had this afternoon......

Because Matty Bowen has been one of the best full back in the NRL for over 10 years and was still one of the best last season, He has come over to take pressure of Hampshire and mentor him. Hampshire and tierny are quality prospects but they still need to learn more about the role before they take over full time. Bowen is only on a year contract.

Rather disappointed at paying £16 and not a sniff of a Wigan superstar. Brought my 2 lads who watch Super League on TV but have never taken to watching Leigh and their interest wained somewhat shortly after kick off without players they'd heard of.

Hampshire, Joe burgess (more than likely starting winger), dan sarginson, anthony gelling, sam powell, george Williams, john bateman, greg burke, ian thornley and sam hopkins will all see a lot of first time this year. its impossible to say who are starting 17 will be because so many of these fringes players are capable of upstaging the so called start 17. If sarginson plays like he did today i can't see thornley keeping hold of that spot but then again he is a very good winger so joe burgess might not play a full season on the wing. John bateman will more than likely be one of the first choice 2nd rows.

I think 7 of the 21 won't play any first team this season as majority of them are 18 years old or younger.

Ryan Hampshire is the next big superstar for Wigan. can hardly call the players out there today poor. Joe burgess could very well be the next pat richards. And a lot of the star players have left Wigan. only 2 house hold names left are probably sean o'loughlin and josh charnley but he is injured anyway.

And would there be no grumbles from the Wigan fans if today's team took to the field against Saints or Leeds and they were asked to pay full pride for admission?

Whichever way you dress it up, it was no-where near, no-where near Wigan's first team.

For one reason or another lots were expecting it to be.

look at the team that played leeds (away game), Warrington (away game) and there was one game where i think we had no senior forwards apart from sean oloughlin and he was injured against saints (at home i think).

Personally i have started to really enjoy watching the youngsters, if i was living back in Wigan i would regularly attend the youngsters matches i think its very exciting.

But it was, majority of those players today played a lot of minutes last season. The reason why we won the double last season was because of the big squad and players who are more than capable of stepping up. Why would you want to play Wigan Strongest team? it wouldn't be a good match, today was a tight and entertaining match. Leigh and Wigan would have learned a lot more from today than if Wigan put 50 points past you with the first team.

Yes and you owe Mr Rigby one HUGE apology for merely suggesting on an unofficial forum that Wigan would use it as an opportunity to send over their youngsters. He was 100% correct !!

Nine of them. Hampshire, Burgess, Williams, Sutton, Pugsley, Tierney, Austin, Wright and Lever.

Who's the ones caught out Rogues? did they mention anything about reforming the reserves league?

It was a good game, the difference at the start of the second half was due to tactical changes by Wigan, Logan Tompkins and Hampshire in the half a with the introduction of two centres who are so far out of our league it's ridiculous. Class tells. Apart from that it was close. Hampshire is quality, very very good. I thought we where good today and our forwards are very impressive. Shame the ref disallowed one of Leigh's tries because it was probably the best try I have seen in years

'No'
Well done to both clubs.
Best £16.00 I have spent this year

if the board were told one thing and Wane does another how are the board to blame?

I haven't "blamed" anybody.

Well mate they will be calling you tight soon because I think that is spot on.

You are absolutely correct in everything you say and we not only competed against a strong but not full strength Wigan side but will have learned so so much from the tough first full contact hit out of the 2014.

We could have played Wigan's starting 17 and got done by 50/60 alternatively we could have played a Wigan u19s like previous years and won but learned nothing either. Today's selections from both sides were spot on IMO and made for a great game and a competitive spectacle and one which both teams and staff deserve great credit for so early in the calendar.

Unfortunately Leigh is blessed with some serious bell ends as fans and you have just responded to one.

All the positive stuff going on and they pick out the fact that half a dozen real big names didn't come.

Tool probably doesn't realise while going on about Wigan's team selection that Sam Tompkins, Pat Richards, Harrison Hanson and co no longer play for them. Indeed Hanley and Gregory retired years ago



Dan Sarginson looks like he will kick on to be one of the best in SL now he's playing for top side and the fullback Hampshire looks set for stardom.

All this hullabaloo every year about the team Wigan outs out in these friendlies. It's really quite simple. Every coach should put out a team that they feel can win any given match. Looking at the scoreline it would appear that the Wigan coach achieved that.

The best way to get Wigan to put out their first choice 17 in a future friendly is to effectively force them to do so if they want to win the game. In other words, if Leigh can improve year by year, what we want to happen WILL eventually happen. It's not really realistic to expect Wigan to put out a full team against the likes of us (leaving aside promises made and broken).

Lets look to this season to help close the gap and as we move into playing in the Middle 8 we will gradually get the experience of big games we need to force Wigans hand in future.

Best try of game and one of the best tries I've ever seen from a Leigh side.

I was sat directly in line with half way and the pass that was pulled back was at worst flat.

But for being caught cold and slow start second half we matched everything a strong Wigan outfit had to offer and Liam Kay was a menace in and around the ruck.

Brown will score bags at Championship level and sat I the West stand it was evident every time he touched the ball the North Stand made a noise.

That pack against championship opposition will be devastating and I thought big SAMs footwork and Wilkes work rate matched anything Wigan had to offer in their spells on the paddock.

Ryan Brierley looked sharpe with ball in hand and it's evident this year we have support players who will score tries running on the shoulder.

All in all encouraging, Friday will be tough as Salford will be strong but we are getting battle hardened ready for Batley and the real business that really matters.

Was in a box today and never seen so many people in the exec areas and the vibe was mega.

No need for that at all, and it's Sam Tomkins, not Tompkins, you absolute ****ing **** !

And here lies a classic example of a complete and utter plinth.

I suggest you shut up as you will necpver ever be the man your mother is.........

Knob...and what is necpver ?
Too many shandy's ?
Don't tell me what to do, and sucking up to Pie fans, you are PATHETIC/SAD/WIGANNER.

It's getting late wee lad and I'm up you mam early so don't expect any further replies after this.

I’d like to leave you with one thought…but I’m not sure you have anywhere to put it???

I’m busy now. Can I ignore you some other time maybe?