McNally
Higson
Armstrong
Gardner
Brown
Ridyard
Brieley..
With Kaye and Pownall Maden that's our best option this season for a decent backline in my opinion

He won the MOM yesterday.

Was gonna say no he didn't then I realised you meant higgy..

So you are only changing Littler for Armstrong. From what I have observed it is debatable if that would give us any advantage. I agree with you though about being a good centre short.

Charlie wasn't to concerned about yesterdays performance or result , we gave away to many penalties , and didn't see much of the ball in second half , still not a bad performance , maybe lacking a bit of urgency in Defence , but I feel the Batley game will see us at our real best , hopefully fielding a first choice 17 , the future is bright , Charlie knows .

Think Armstrong has been suffering from a foot injury for the last four weeks, which has affected speed and mobility.
A number of players have been struggling with some injury problems, or are still on post op recoveries. Brown made the left side look vulnerable yesterday, not Sarsfield and Armstrong. He flies out of the line at the moment, causing lots of space for centres and wings to run into, creating overlaps that shouldn't be there.
The season doesn't start for two weeks yet, so more time for injury niggles to clear up, line ups to be decided and tactics to be worked on. We'll be alright when the Championship begins for real.

My team for Batley:

1 McNally
2 Maden
3 Littler
4 Higson
5 Brown
6 Ridyard
7 Brierley
8 Spencer
9 Kay
10 Wilkes
11 Barlow
12 Goulden
13 Beswick

14 Acton
15 Emmitt
16 Haggerty
17 Bate

Thinking longer term: Brown would have until Pownall's fit to gel with the defence on that side. Armstrong to be phased in at #2, but Maden is still stronger defensively when the big games come round. A fully fit Penky would take one of the bench spots.

No Mick Govin or Bob Beswick in there. If they are injured then young Josh Lewis should be in with Kaye. I don't think Jamie Acton is fit either yet. Oh forgot. Spoke to Bob after final whistle and he just had a dead leg so should be fit fit in two weeks time.

My 17 for the Batley game would be .

1.Brierley .
2.Higson .
3.Littler .
4.Armstrong.
5. Brown .
6.Ridyard .
7.Kay .
8.Spencer .
9.Beswick.
10.Emmit .
11.Goulden.
12.Haggerty.
13.Aspinwall.

14.Govin.
15.Acton.
16.Wilkes.
17.Barlow .

I realise Penky more than likely wont be fit , otherwise he would make my 17 , after the announcement about money from the RFL , it is imperative we finish in the top 2 , no room for sentiment , PR knows what has to be done as im sure do the BOM .

Beswick was at 13. With Gov, Penky, Kay & the young lad from Saints we have plenty hooker options but I wouldn't want to drop Beswick so I'd use him at 13 rather than keep playing a prop there. For me it also enables us to play Kay & Ryan together in the same team. Wouldn't have minded dropping one of them to the bench in the short term, but long term I wouldn't want more than 1 non-grunt-type forward on the bench and I was mindful of Penky. Didn't think Gov did enough in his first game back on Sunday, no drama there after such a long layoff, would expect him to put strong pressure on the starters going forwards.

Agreed, wouldn't drop Riddy, but Liam Kay is too good to be on the bench.
Where to play him though ?

Can't understand higson at centre. In all the games I have seen can't recall a single pass he has made. He has to play on the wing if selected. Would like to see sarsfield in centre with brown outside

Didn't he pass inside for the best try of the game to get us back to 6 all

My team for Batley

McNally
Higson
Govin
Armstrong
Brown
Ridyard
Brierley
Wilkes
Beswick
Spencer
Goulden
Haggerty
Barlow

Subs
Acton
Kay
Emmett
Littler

He did Salfordlad.

My main thinking behind suggesting AJ at centre was for his defence - especially with Brown outside him and against a strong side like Batley. He's also not slow and as we saw he linked up pretty well against Warrington. Mind you, Sarsfield I do think is an interesting suggestion too - would quite like to see us try that one out actually.

Think Liam should be stand off with Riddy scrum half and Brierley full back.

Pack for me would be Spencer and Wilkes with Foster hooker Sarsfield Goulden and Barlow then bench

Emmitt Acton Haggerty and Beswick.

Threequarters PR can pick them.

Like I said from the games I have watched - wasn't there at weekend. For me defensively he would be a good centre, but not in attack from what I have seen. Wing for me

No McNally?

Not seen much of Aspinwall in the friendlies.Is he injured or just not selected? If fit surely should be in the 17 imo.

Greg went off on Sunday with what looked to be a groin injury.

I don't think Greg is a bad player but I want to see this Leigh side get folk interested and I think this is the best way.


Don't worry folks PR picks the team and surprisingly enough I am prepared to leave that to him.

Totally agree - McNally hasn't looked that good in attack or defence. Kay looks outstanding and a halfback partnership with Riddy looks good - therefore Brierly to full back and McNallly as back up for any of those 3.

In my opinion Gregg McNally was possibly our best player last season. I think he's a brilliant fullback, always reliable under high balls, good at defending, fast enough to move into the right positions, creative, always knows when to pass and who to. Agree perhaps Full Back is Brierley's best position but I don't think he's as good a full back as McNally.

On a side note to this game our new pitch side announcer is brilliant Stuart 'lights-out' Littler & Ryan 'big dog' Duffy especially cracked me up

He's great, but I'm still training Tom to avoid eating the microphone