He was poor for us but they seem to love him, either that or he loves biscuits.
Always a tough game at Batley, Kearcwill have them up for your visit without a doubt.

Leigh Centurions 19 man Squad

Higson, Worthington, Armstrong, Kay, Ridyard, Brierley, Moimoi, Beswick, Weston, Hansen, Hock, Higham, Pownall, Maitua, Spencer, Hopkins, Dixon, Chase, Emmitt

Batley Bulldogs Squad

Reittie, Ulugia, Squires, Ainscough, Southernwood, Brambani, Hirst, Blake, Day, S. Scott, Walker, Davey, Gledhill, Chandler, Lillycrop, Bretherton, Leak, J. Brown, D. Scott

No Cory Paterson is a blow on top of the other injured players, really liked what I saw from him in pre-season

I'd go with:

1. Brierley
2. Higson
3. Worthington
4. Armstrong
5. Kay
6. Ridyard
7. Chase
8. Weston
9. Higham
10. Hock
11. Dixon
12. Hansen
13. Maitua

Subs:
Beswick
Emmitt
Spencer
Hopkins

Although I expect Fui to be in the actual 17 instead of either Spencer or Hopkins.

Batley's squad looks much stronger than last years and will be no mugs on their own patch. Should be a great game.

1. Pownall
2. Higson
3. Worthington
4. Armstrong
5. Kay
6. Brierley
7. Ridyard
8. Emmitt
9. Higham
10. Spencer
11. Dixon
12. Maitua
13. Hock

14. Beswick
15. Weston
16. Hansen
17. Moimoi

If conditions are awful it might be better to stick with players who have experience of Mount Pleasant starting so it comes of less of a shock to them, think it'll be a physical low scoring game & Batley will be really up for it and come at us from the start, don't want them getting an early score or pressure while players are getting used to Mount Pleasant. Going with Pownall at full back as he's probably a safer pair of hands than Ryan (don't know really, we've not actually seen Ryan at full back).

Good call. I would just swap Spencer and Weston around, and maybe chase might feature.

Anyone know how Batley's pitch is holding up?

Hoping it isn't like that mudbath the pies played on tonight.

Makes you appreciate the LSV even more. Despite the horrendous weather we've been having the pitch at the LSV is still in fantastic shape. Big advantage for us that our pitch allows us to play our own style even in the depths of winter.

So Nozzy you think you are now Michael Fish, it has done plenty of raining in Yorkie land, I would think your game at Batley will be off.Terence has spoken.

Brierley at fullback? And you have the audacity to question? My knowledge.

Im no Richard Marshall, or Tony Smith , but my choice of full back for Leigh on Sunday would be Tom Armstrong, the lad has what it takes to be a success there, as you will only need him there for this game.
I think Lee Smith is a very good signing and im certainly envious you have BOTH DEGSY and MAURICE batting in your corner.

Atomic who would you have there? Defiantly not pownall he's positioning was rubbish at wire don't get me wrong won't be as busy at barley that's why I'd have breierley there!!

Brierley back from an op and you'd place him at fullback? His guidance will come from Chase this season and won't learn that at fullback.

Pownall will take the fullback position,with the signing of Lee Smith opens other options for that fullback position but I see him being used on the wing and again Pownall taking the fullback role in coming matches.

Better later than never Budge..

It will be Ryan and Riddy at 6+7,with Rangi at fullback.

Ooooooooooooooohhh, team news all the way from Jersey

I'm sorry I won't be there but I have a prior engagement at the Shay,I'm sure if King Degsy doesn't like the team line up he will change it you never know you may have a NEW Coach tonight if the King is not happy with today's performance.Good Luck.

Pownall is not a fullback! That simple! Breierley might not be but he will be more exposed in the line of the defence than at fullback to be honest! The fact is that we haven't got a fullback this week smith should be fit and ready next week and goes straight into fullback

Oggy has spoken,I hope King Degsy is listening.

Distance is irrelevant with technology Jagger lad,i have heard even you Yaaarkies have stopped using pigeons and have embraced it!



Enjoy your day at the Shay,it will be the radio for me!

I'd be very surprised if Brierley is not #1 today. Seems the obvious replacement for Greg 'today' while keeping the natural playmakers Ridyard and Chase at 6 & 7. His defence is obviously in question (reference middle 8's) but here is the opportunity to toughen up. Think how Neil Turley used to play...

Micky Higham said in an interview the other week last year was the 1st time he played at Mount Pleasant and he was shocked at just how much of a slope the pitch was on. Thinking maybe t best to throw Weston straight onto that Batley pitch from kick off, bit of a difference from Melbourne, let the initial fire go out of the game first.



Pownall started his career at Full Back and has covered there quite well when we've needed him to in the past. So far as I'm aware Brierley has never played Full Back.

I think Ryan has played the odd game at full back - perhaps against an amateur team in the Challenge Cup. His attacking style would potentially be similar to McNally's in that position - i.e. a bit more room for him.

Oops, wonder what good old degsi thinks

Bloody Leigh let me down with my accumulator today, but not to worry. I have gladly lost a fiver haha

What happened to going unbeaten in first 23 games

Maybe your fans statement should of been

"Leigh to go unbeaten in the first half of the first game of the season"

Haha brilliant

Hate to say it, this result was predicted. But is that a joke... Chase (the best halfback in the division) at fullback? and boy did Batley's strategy to pepper him work! With Jukes at the helm we could be in for a very long season and DB may start to get twitchy with his investment.