LeytherRob

There will be a game where Hodgson was from the bench (Huddersfield where he came on at FB replacing Armstrong), but then there are games in Armstrongs stats where he got injured and didn't play the full match also. So it evens out. You could separate the games where Hodgson was wing vs fullback but unfortunately the SL website doesn't have that functionality without going into each game individually which I don't have the appetite to do. My point though, as it's always been, is that it's not really relevant how many games were at fullback vs wing for Hodgson as he performs the same role regardless for the most part. Several times against KR and Wigan, his kick return carries were coming after a pass from Charnley or Brand anyway which is exactly what would happen if Armstrong caught it and passed it on to him to cart in. On the stats, even if you take the 7 or 8 games he's played fullback, his clean breaks and tries per game still don't stack against Armstrong.

Did I? Where did I say that? The majority of Hodgsons carries aren't coming into the line though, they're scoots or first man drives for yardage from his own half of the field. This is a very strong and important contribution to the team especially when he's doing 2 per set at times, but it's also a job that can, and is for most teams, done by a winger. See Tom Davies, Liam Marshall, Ryan Hall. It's an area Leigh have lacked for a while. Pace however is what teams want at fullback now, particularly Adrian Lam who in Armstrong has basically signed Jai Field for a second time, and you wouldn't put Jai Field on the wing just because Liam Marshall might get you a few extra meters running it hard on the kick return. The stats quite comfortably back this up too which I've summarised from the SL website below. Armstrong is the player you want roaming when the oppositions line is in site, Hodgson is the player you want helping to win the arm wrestle by getting through a ton of work. We haven't even remotely seen the best of Armstrong either yet because he's had so many injuries this year. Hopefully next year he can get a clear run because I've little doubt he'll show why Lam values him. Sources: Armstrong stats - Player Hodgson stats - Player

Then I don’t think you’ve paid much attention to the numerous posts I’ve put on the subject Harry, but for the avoidance of doubt - Armstrong can’t pass Hodgson can’t pass So judging either of them on that metric is pointless. They’re also both under the category of ‘lot to learn’ particularly in positioning. Everything you said applies to them both. Hodgson’s strength is in his kick returns and yardage carries. These are both wingers jobs in the modern game and whether he is doing it after catching on the full or taking a pass from fullback is pretty negligible. Armstrong’s strength is raw pace that scores tries even at an NRL level and in lieu of having a FB who is a 3rd halfback, you want someone chiming into the line who has pace to disappear into a gap. That being said, his positioning needs work to be more effective in supporting line breaks. He’s also been ill/carrying niggles in the majority of games he’s played. The things Hodgson is doing that he is rightfully getting a lot of plaudits for he could do easily from wing or fullback. This was evident when he was doing exactly that from the left wing in the early rounds of this season.

If Armstrong is fit, then Hodgson takes a wing. It’s that easy. Hodgsons biggest strength is kick returns and getting through plenty drives/metres in early set, that’s literally a wingers job in the modern game. Leigh fans generally have long held an infatuation with any fullback that’s willing to do the dirty work. No one really apprecated how good McNally was at the time because he didn’t run it like a prop coming off the back fence but everyone was enamoured with Mitch Brown, even though his speed and link up play were non existent. It’s always frustrated me but it’s just a reminder that the average RL fan actually doesn’t know a great deal about the game. Thank god our fans don’t pick the team is all I’ll say.

KR have Wigan, Leeds, St Helens then FC back to back in August/September. If they were to miss out on the LLS, that run will be it.

He didn’t stand on his head nor did he kick him in the face. He caught him with a knee when scrambling for a quick play the ball.

Agreed. It was obstruction by the letter of the law as Mago stayed in the line, however in reality it didn't really affect things and was more poor/tired defence than anything.

John Davidson (along with Steve Mascord and a few others getting giddy) was also saying 10 team NRL Europe was nailed on for 2026 so I’ll believe it when it’s coming out from one of the more reputable journalists to be honest.

I don't think the point is just about numbers through the gate though, it's also about numbers through the balance sheet too. The point made on the house of league podcast, is that there is concern amongst a lot of owners about the prospect of having 2 French clubs in a league of 12 vs in a league of 14. In a 14, you've got a consistent 2 home games per year against the French teams which you can target with marketing to make up any shortfall in away fans (but clubs still will earn less money generally than they would against a UK club). In a 12, with loop fixtures, there is a very real possibility that some clubs would have 4 of their 13 home games against Cats/Toulouse at which point it becomes more difficult. You'd also have clubs potentially having 4 away games in France out of 13 which again is a lottery no one wants to win. I think all of that is a very reasonable concern to have - I think everyone is agreed on loop fixtures being undesirable at this point.

There is a rule about picking your strongest team, competition integrity etc, however as you rightly point out it wasn't enforced last year or any of the times cup finalists mysteriously picked up 17 minor injuries the week before a final. So whilst I think what SRD(more specifically Paul Rowley) did in week 1 was petulant and did intentionally undermine the comp, I really don't see how you can punish in a way that wouldn't fall apart on appeal.

2nd year of their 2nd 3 year plan

Yeah the league position is a perfectly accurate representation of where that squad is. It's improved somewhat in recent weeks, but it's a poor spine and a mostly average/poor pack.

0.25 grading points deduction for any points deduction or fine greater than £30k

I think there is a reasonable chance he’s at Leigh next year. When his transfer was cancelled after his accident it was stressed the door wasn’t closed, and Leigh will be looking for a Jack Hughes replacement with the new quota rules coming in. Also Allan Coleman and Beaumont are pretty close which is why Leigh players have generally been turning up on loan at Widnes more than anywhere else.

That was more down to the fact that Carters money was drying up than coaching ability, in my opinion. Wakefield were one of the lowest spending teams in the league and sooner or later teams will struggle when that is the case. Makes a big difference when you are spending cap plus marquees like they are now.

That’s crazy

Does this mean the meet the coaches event scheduled for Tuesday by Cas is cancelled?

Recently I’ve found myself becoming less and less invested in VR decisions, particularly when in the ground. I care less about the outcome and just want a decision made - I didn’t even watch the screen for the Charnley incident, just turned around for a chat then looked when they put the decision up. I’d be quite happy if they put a 1 minute timer on it and if they haven’t found something to overturn the decision then crack on with the ref call. The drawn out delays just suck all the atmosphere out of the game.

On Nsemba, the preseason talk from Peet is that he was nearly 20kg heavier than 12 months previous. I think the extra weight has nullified him a little as a second row and he looks more like a middle these days. Last year he looked a lot more agile and dynamic in contact than he has this year.

It’s a much younger/inexperienced squad at Leigh this year which always tends to come with inconstancies. Last night was a high water mark but we could quite easily get a hiding next week.

Great game that, though Leigh did well to ride out the first half. Wigan really front loaded their effort looking to blitz us which to be fair has worked comfortably several times recently.

On watching both the Martin and Horne incidents, i'm struggling to see how there is 6 games of ban worth of difference between the 2 incidents. Martin clearly pulls the shirt up on a downed player and so does Horne. I get the need for and support a zero-tolerance stance on things even if a player isn't actually injured, but I would be pretty angry if I was a Cas fan when you see a very similar incident go unpunished in the same evening's tribunal. Personally, I just want to see referees given the power to stop teams taking the mick when it comes to time wasting. Wigan* really pushed the limits on it last weekend with some tackles taking around 10 seconds to get a play the ball and the referee having to ask the player to play the ball multiple times. There doesn't seem to be any directive where referees can actually punish this within the rules. *Every team does it, I'm just using it as an example

That is heartbreaking for Cas

It was a shocker, I don’t even think Dupree collected it cleanly. He looked to drag it along the floor into his body which should be a knock on.

“Nothing in that” says the VR as Harry Smith tackles a player without the ball and isn’t even looking at the ball. That was a shocker