Harry Stottle

He has filled in for Armstrong in the numerous times he has missed games this season, always played well glad he will now get an extended run. For those who don't know, he is the nephew of Josh Hodgson.

Certainly is, and the re-brand has been a stroke of genius albeit there was a lot of disdain at its launch especially from this fan of the club, but that for me was down to the original shirt and I still think that was most probably the worst Rugby League shirt I have ever witnessed, but I do think that sensibility has come over with predominantly reverting to the cherry and white for the home shirt. Has Sweaty observed in the 'dark times' other clubs shirts Wigan, Wire & Saints were prominent in Leigh as leisure wear, now all you see is 'Leopard Print'. My only grievance is I now have to turn up and hour before kick off to secure a position to lean on the crash barriers - my old back needs to lean on something - previously I could turn up 10 mins before kick off! Only joking I will gladly put up with it.

Just on the Armstrong situation, if he is now out for the season can Leigh deregister him for the remainder of the season as Leeds did with Mika Sivo?

Re Armstrong, didn't know the extent of his injury until I say the news this morning, if it is 9 months then surely the best thing is to send him home and have whatever nessacary treatment is required out there, I would think that recuperating in familiar surroundings along side family and friends would be much better for him than waiting the time out here.

In anticipation, as they say "bring it on"

From Mr Wanes named squad, Not just going of last nights game but we have been watching Wigan for 4 games on the trot now were they have played 2 of the bottom 3 a middle table team and now a team 2 places behind them, I think we will all agree that there will be a number of this Wigan team in the starting line up come the first test and as an England fan that worries me. The pack which may produce the full front row a second row and a bench player has been let's say less than inspiring, I wonder is Nsemba now don't shoot my head off is one of those "one season wonders" and teams have sussed him out by closing him down very quickly he is no longer that rampant forward on this form the Aussie forwards will chew him up or his he not getting the service required which brings me to Harry Smith, he is not dissapointing my opinion of him that I have held for a long time in that if his kicking game is off there is not a lot else, he needed to stand up last night and organise the team but he didn't seem capable of doing that so if he is getting selected for England for his kicking then put the best tactical kicker we have in there in Marc Sneyd, for me Sneyd also offers more with ball in hand, I think that leaves Marshall and Wardle, I think we have better wingers available than Marshall and watching a lot of Aussie football with 6' odd tall wingers available and kickers having the abillity to drop the ball on a sixpence Marshalls lack of height is worrying, so onto Wardle probably the best English centre in the SL. Just my thoughts and these can all change as the season progresses, and in Wigan's case they will get their talisman back in a few weeks who does so much more than just his own performance, he puts the team on the front foot and they all perform better.

Nah, that's Saints moniker doubt they would be happy with Wigan pinching that.

Thought about the Ipape try this morning so looked on the Sky highlights reel and my thoughts were confirmed, yes it was a thing of beauty but the most pleasing thing about it was it went through the hands of 5 forwards (6 if you count Ipape twice) Ipape (acting half), Joffa, Tuikavavi, O'Neil, Trout and Ipape again, and all the touches and passes were contributors, only Halton positioned far left of the field was the only forward not involved, this to my mind can instill something of confidence in the ability of the forwards to keep the ball alive when the situation arrives, and something for Mr Lam to work on and promote within his charges. One if the better 'team' tries I have witnessed in a very long time of watching this game.

No,no and thrice no, I would sooner put up with 6 loop fixtures than 10.

Not seen it, is this getting habit forming?

It's certainly been good this year Eagle, there as been one good game and two exceptional ones.

I will disagree whole heartedly with that.

Leigh had three opportunities to score in the first half and literally bombed them all.

Well what a joy to be there to witness a wonderful game and occasion, earlier on in the thread I said if Leigh win tonight it will eclipse the opening night victory and I thought it certainly did that, as mentioned great stand out performances from some Leigh Players especially Hodgson but all and back line performed very well, Trout was exceptional up front and don't forget Lam who was busy all night going about his buisness as usual. It must have been a great watch for neutrals out there if it came over on the box as it did in the stadium.

I wouldn't hold my breath Irish, you probably know with your community background as I do that that it is not at the top of priorities, I was about in the early seventies when it took a group of determined men led by Maurice Oldroyd to rejuvenate a dying amateur game with the founding of BARLA. It seems to have lapsed since the RFL is the controlling body.

As I said earlier WN, this fixture carries so much more weight than your recent 3 games v Hudds, Wakey and Cas, even if you were expected to win at least 2 of those 3 at a canter and the third albeit expending a little more energy, you will be fired up for this, and with these winds around here - I am a mile or so from the ground in my living room and it sounds as though I am on Wuthering Heights with the sound of the wind howling around - Harry Smith will exploit that much better than any kicker Leigh has. If we manage to win this, I will credit it as a better result than round 1 at your place.

It's took a long time to run it down Irish, and it will take even longer to bring it back, if it ever can!

On point 3 Jake Connor not the tallest guy in the world made G O'B look very silly when collecting that high kick last week which lead to a try.

The most annoying thing for this Leigh fan is that we keep getting messages from the club officials that tell us we have cap space and money available to improve the playing roster but nothing seems to happen on improving the matchday squad, we may not have space on overseas availability, but if you look at those you mention above for HKR they are all British lads and probably more first team capable than those Leigh have signed who don't get in the matchday selection. All we get of Mr Lam is this group of player's we have will take 6 months to realise their potential both individually and collectively, but Mr Lam we have no capable alternatives when it comes to those first teamers out injured or suspended, just look at our bench selection each week to prove the point.

But usually when a PTB takes much longer to be executed is because some teams employ 3 or 4 tacklers lying on, there is no rule against it and 2 teams in particular take full advantage of the leniency of the referees in this matter, I once read a report that said on average there are over 600 tackles effected in a game of rugby league, so if all teams slowed the ptb to 10 secs that would be a longer time than a match covers!

Have I said they have? Read back the bit you have highlighted it starts with "Have they now" that implies something different to a mandate, and Coaches will take advantage of any little angle they can exploit, remember tgd instruction only couple of season's ago for an halfback to pass the ball into a defender many times still on the floor but in an offside position to get a free kick.

Precedents can be applied both ways in cases such as these Tommy, have they now in a round about way given the green light for player's to waste time 'officially'? one thing is for certain Coaches will interpret it in such a way to take best advantage of it.

To be fair John, now I know you don't like hearing comment's such as these, but to me he Mr Grant exhibits all those qualities you describe with whistle in hand.

Totally agree with you that is if you are intimating the squad prepared for this season is somewhat wanting, good job Joffa has joined else we would be in the messy stuff up front, and as for the regular 'bench member's' Mr Lam is seemingly consistent with we must have the weakest of any of the top 8 teams, we need some weight and dynamism to come onto the field when required, not just those filler in's that had very little to proceedings, Wigan bench most likely Mago, Byrne, Leeming and Dupree whilst we have Tuikavavi, Hughes, Davis and Macnamara.

They were woeful this season before he left Eddie, if not perhaps he would still be there!