phiggins

You've named three once in a lifetime talents that all played in my lifetime.

Doesn't that raise the question of why he was even on the field?

There is a balance between the principal of strong clubs and teams, and that balance needs to be found by clubs when they decide how to spend the money they have. But my view is that you need to be a strong club to be consistently competitive on the field. For example, Saints might not be favourites to win SL this year, but they will be competitive because of their strong off field systems that supports the first team. If they were to have a freak year of injuries, finish bottom but stay up, you'd fancy them to be competitive again the following year. Hull haven't been very good on the field for a few years, which to me suggests that the off field stuff isn't as strong as you would hope for a grade A club. If they finish bottom but survive, you wouldn't back them to be much better next year without some significant off field improvements.

For whatever the rights and wrongs of where clubs focus their money and attention, I think the fact that Hull are a grade A is a poor reflection on the system. Given an A grade was originally supposed to give immunity (although now not relevant unless 13 or more score 15+), I'm not sure we should be giving that to a club that has performed as Hull have the last few years. I think if we are giving exemptions from relegation, it would be for clubs like Wigan, where you can safely say it would take a freak year to see them finish bottom, and that it would feasible for them to be competitive again the following year.

@Harry Stottle - This is the closest that I can find to the interview with DB that I referenced earlier. Apologies, if it is just quotes from the YouTube interview, but didn't recall him stating that the finance score had been verified by the RFL: https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/derek-beaumont-makes-bold-img-claim-amid-relegation-rumours-87821/ Main claim is that there will be a 2.5 increase in finance score, and that has been verified by the RFL. That would take Leigh's score to 14.7 after the Challenge cup defeat, and I would expect a slight increase in stadium utilisation score. Though, I don't know if there are likely any deductions due because of off field disciplinaries.

I think a lot will depend on the finance scores. Leigh are hoping that the updated accounts, with loans written off, and extra cash on the balance sheet will result in an extra couple of points, give or take the odd hundredth or so. What we don't know is whether Huddersfield, Wakefield and Cas will do the same. Salford's finance score might also see an improvement with recent player sales. Though I don't know what impact the stadium situation and rent defaults will have on their score. Chances are we'll end up with 13 or 14 clubs all scoring over 14, with a clear gap beneath them. And one or two clubs miss out. Will be extremely harsh on them.

Not sure how that works. Leigh's score last year was effectively 12.2, once you remove the cup bonus and Bradford's was 12.02. Performance score alone wouldn't move Bradford past Leigh with a 4th placed finish, given they finished 5th in 2021, so the improvement in performance score would be very small. Though, my maths is rarely correct to be fair.

The cup counts for 0.25 points, which will drop off Leigh’s score.

Doesn't really matter how depleted Leigh are to be honest. Simply cannot defend a set in our own half. Not convinced things would've been much different with Asiata, Mulhern and Ipape on the pitch when you see likes of Charnley and Hardaker rushing off the line for tries conceded. Can't be many, if any teams that can match Warrington for pace in the backline, and chances of Leigh coping are pretty slim.

My thoughts exactly. If anything is to be binned, it’s magic weekend.

You should’ve said before

Aaron Bower reporting that Cas are looking at signing Ben Nakubuwei

Imagine how concerning it is to have lost to both Saints and Leeds!

I don't think the subsequent 15 years have been kind to Odsal.

Leeds is east of Huddersfield, and you're not going to play a cup semi final at Fax or Bradford. As in "having to travel". You're not exactly having to travel a massive distance? Wigan will likely be travelling to Headingley, if Warrington were playing Hull KR in the semi final, it would probably be held at Huddersfield.