Adam Higson is AJ

AJ got caught out once, the second try was down to a ' midfield ' letting bulls player take a poor kick from their own side unchallenged and then allowed to kick again

Yeswe blew it, total control looking at running in 50 before the end and we gifted them confidence, still a lot to learn, good job they missed a couple of kicks early on

But hey ho, an entertaining match, bring on next week

AJ got caught out once, the second try was down to a ' midfield ' letting bulls player take a poor kick from their own side unchallenged and then allowed to kick again

Yeswe blew it, total control looking at running in 50 before the end and we gifted them confidence, still a lot to learn, good job they missed a couple of kicks early on

But hey ho, an entertaining match, bring on next week

Great post Al.

We totally demoralized them in the first half.They had no ideas and tried us up the middle.They were trying for evermore to get the ball to the flanks but never happened.Strongest I've seen them seeing we are weakened.An absolute brilliant 65mins and an equal brilliant 15 mins from the Bulls,with a tremendous conversion to tie it.

AJ or AH he had a 15 minute stinker,I hope he learns from.

This team is taking time to settle and we've seen in glimpses what they are capable of. When we have our full strength team playing week in week out, we will then know if we're capable or not. Frankly I think Jukes and the team is coping well with everything considering:
- Mass of injuries to our back line
- Coach walking out a few days before the season starts.

Come the end of the season we only need to be there or there abouts. That's it, for now. We'll know so much more about this bunch of players when we can see them all at full strength.

Right now though, we can be thankful we have a squad of players who are competing with the rest, despite the unsettled start to the season.

Nope a dig would have been how the heck do you have the audicity to charge £22.00 to watch Championship RL on uncovered terracing.

It's not particularly letting Bradford back into it today that's annoyed me. It's how many times last season should we have put Championship teams to the sword & instead let them back into a close game? Would we be in SL if we'd have kicked on from our first half performances against Hull KR & Wakefield & gone on to win those games? Playing for a full 80 was our biggest weakness last season, we got complacent from not having to do it against Championship teams to win then got beaten when we tried easing off against SL teams. I said after the Super 8 implosion last year we had the skill but needed the game management & experience & the Super 8s would be a steep but good learning curve, from today's capitulation it seems we've learnt nothing.

For 65 min we were fantastic, best we've played all season, defended very strongly, great in attack, kept the ball well. Bradford couldn't do anything, looked toothless in attack and very fragile in defence. Thought our forwards were outstanding, totally dominant and allowed some excellent performances from our injury ravaged backs, with Cory Patterson doing an excellent job sort of halfway between the two. Then we thought we had the game won & backed off. Momentum is so crucial in RL and once you've lost it it's very difficult to get back, why we seem so willing to throw it away when we think we're on top baffles me.

Yes we're a far better team with Higham on, yes he's outstanding in his leadership & execution of plays & moves and his organisation & leadership is brilliant. However, there's 13 men on that field in a Leigh shirt, many of them with SL, NRL or international experience, changing one man shouldn't cause the sever drop in quality we've seen every time Higham comes off. When Micky comes off we obviously lose a lot and so the other players should be stepping up, think instead some are if not stepping back certainly not adapting play to fill the role left by Micky leaving. Yes Foster should do it but he's a young kid thrust in due to Beswick's injury not an experienced SL hooker.

I don't charge anybody anything. Do you think the Bulls fans enjoy paying that every home game? You're complaining because you have to pay a couple of quid extra once a year? I really feel sorry for you.

If Mr Beaumont ever pulls out of bankrolling Leigh and you want to keep a decent full time squad then you can expect to be paying similar prices at your club. That's the reason we're given for the high prices. You either pay it or don't.

I started the thread and the title I gave it is a statement not a question.

Your comprehension skills are laughable.

Lowton Sparrow, your first paragraph re momentum is bang on the money.

The number of times last season we built up a big lead then eased off to let the opposition back in or failing that neglected the opportunity to run up a really big score was laughable - Fev at home is one that springs to mind.

We've got to get rid of this habit and quick or it's Championship rugby for the foreseeable.

Michael now I'm not tired and stone cold sober, I would like to apologise for my error, you are right.

Also I thought Leigh played extremely well for 60 minutes, and us for last 20, which I missed

From what we have seen so far you have the same chance which is just about zero. Then again Fax are not throwing over a million pound at a squad of players so our failure will be less of one than Leigh's.

'You' being Bradford Bulls,apologies I forgot Yorkshire fans take everything said or typed literally



I suppose being charged more than everyone else in the league is a necessary evil to pay for that squad.

It is Jenky. We're told that if we want a fulltime squad we have to pay for it. Green isn't as wealthy or as willing to pump in the millions as your Derek.

For me it isn't just [ia point lost[/i but a 2 point swing missed. Factor in also that our +/- stats could have seen a huge improvement *but only if Leigh knew how to put a big game to bed*.

Like many, I predicted an away defeat at Odsal, but how many fans can honestly say that at 6 - 32 & with our pack especially cutting through the Bulls like a hot knife through butter, that they didn't believe we could go on to win 6 -50 or 6 - 56 ???

It was like Bradford had stayed in the dressing room up until the hour mark & Leighs player's had all gone down the pub to celebrate & pat each other on the back just as Bulls started to have a go.

It is simply not good enough, full squad or injuries, have we learned nothing from the Hull K.R & Wakefield games in the 8's ?

On a positive note, it was great to see just how good our pack can be, Hansen & Hopkins were immense as was Patterson at a makeshift 6 come LF. Higham ruled the roost at hooker & our forwards dominated almost every single tackle up to the complete & utter capitulation that followed.

Talking in the Bradford Brewery before the game, I said to a few that if their wings got even a yard on ours *especially Caro* that they would walk 'em in.
Higson was fine in the first half, especially ball in hand but contributed heavily to our downfall 2nd half.
For me AJ is not a winger, never has been & never will be, he hasn't got the out & out pace for a start.

So we had it won in the forwards then threw it away in the backs in the last 15.
How many of their tries were in the corners !!! It needs fixing up, injuries or not.

I also thought that Brierley went very well & Smith had a good game too, but we are suffering heavily at wing & centre.

How long until Beswick, Kay & Riddy come back ?

26 points conceded in the final 15 mins of a game is not very good, side with injuries or not.

Bradford was terrible for 65 mins and our pack dominated them.

What could the reasons be ?

Poor conditioning ?
Fitness ?
Cockyness ?

Either way, defence on either flank needs severely looking at.

I don't think it will effect the outcome of the league too much as I fancy us strongly to finish top 2, but the next 2 games are vital.

I think we eased off, were carrying knocks, and they got the rub after AJ's poor attempt when showing the outside. The game told me that when we have Armstrong, Tonga, Kay as back line options then we will be stronger.
I fancy Kay/Armstrong as wings and Tonga/Worthington as centres when we have full availability

I thought they also got the possession and momentum, after those three errors in rapid succession on our right flank. Even so, I was very encouraged by what had happened in the first 65 minutes - compared with our disjointed efforts in the first three games.

Also need to decide whether we're playing two hookers or not. Taking Higham off seemed like a signal of thinking the game is over, and seemed to react accordingly. If the coach thinks Foster is good enough then he should spell him during tight games. Also, when Higham is off the pitch players like Paterson and Hansen need to step up to lead the team.

Maybe Charnock can interchange with Mickey.

Micky is also carrying an injury, not to mention him not being the youngest player on the field, could he do a full 80 min at hooker? Think it's obvious Foster isn't ready yet & we're playing him in some of these games more out of necessity than any tactical game plan until Bob comes back from injury. Agree fully though when it's so obvious we lose so much when Micky comes off that the other players need to make a real effort to up their games when he does.

Lewis Foster is a very good player and it wasn't his fault we only got the draw. He made no mistakes while he was on. Watch it on Centurion TV.

I think he is a good player too. He doesn't yet attack the line like Higham (who does?!) but he can certainly move the ball away from the ruck. His other 'failing' is lack of experience - but he's only going to rectify that, one way!

I guess we really need Beswick back - he, like Higham is an inspiration to the side. Meanwhile, I'm sure Foster is going to benefit from his spell, deputising for Bob.