Fri 26th Mar: SL: Leigh Centurions v Wigan Warriors KO 20:15 (Sky)

[John Drake]

Discuss Leigh Centurions v Wigan Warriors here.

[LeytherRob]

Tough baptism of fire for Leigh, but one that we should be really targeting considering the missing personnel for Wigan. No Manfredi, Marshall, Gildart, French or Hastings is a big chunk of their first choice backline.

[georgeb1]

got em at the right time , centurions by 4.

[Davo5]

Worst back line Wigan I can remember,genuine chance for Leigh to get that early important win.

[Man of Kent]

Wigan might be missing a few but they are still up against a jumped-up Championship team. Pies.

[Hela Wigmen]

The missing personnel from Wigan makes it more of a leveller but Wigan are much stronger in the pack, which could be telling. 

[hunsletgreenandgold]

Similar to Leeds in the sense that most of the recognised backs are out. But also similarly, they'll still be too strong with what they have. 

[Bleep1673]

Leigh, because Wigan look awful without Hastings. 

[Bleep1673]

Just now, Bleep1673 said:

Leigh, because Wigan look awful without Hastings. 

[Southerner]

Lots of players missing for Wigan, wouldn’t be surprised with an upset. 

[DavidM]

Leigh by 2

[leytherz]

thank god leigh are at full strength for this and are not missing ellis.bell.flower.sau.elliott and peats from what would be our best 13.ive heard wigan might have the odd injury too but nobody seems to be saying anything

[GUBRATS]

41 minutes ago, leytherz said:

thank god leigh are at full strength for this and are not missing ellis.bell.flower.sau.elliott and peats from what would be our best 13.ive heard wigan might have the odd injury too but nobody seems to be saying anything

No ,no , no ,no , you're not allowed to point out the truth , if Leigh lose its because we are sheeeeite , if Leigh win it's because Wigan had their 2nd team out , it's always been that way 

[GUBRATS]

I don't expect us to win tomorrow , or any other weekend , so anything will be a bonus 

[THE RED ROOSTER]

Local derby, tear up the form book, but in this case if there was a crowd in, and this was at the LSV, then Leigh would win. However a neutral venue and a trainng ground atmosphere means a Wigan win by 6

[MZH]

When all is said and done this year I think Leigh will be relegated and Wigan will be there or thereabouts for another GF appearance. However, newly promoted sides often throw up a shock win on opening night and I think they might catch Wigan cold, especially with them having some stars missing.

Leigh by 2

[Snowys Backside]

By far not Leighs best 13 either. Contain them in the pack, could come away with something. 

 

I agree though, a packed LSV and a proper home game would have seen Leigh through. 

 

Wigan by 10

[sweaty craiq]

Wigan far too strong for Leighs depleted team. Leighs squad cant handle so many key players missing whereas Wigans can playing a bottom club

[clogdance]

2 hours ago, sweaty craiq said:

Wigan far too strong for Leighs depleted team. Leighs squad cant handle so many key players missing whereas Wigans can playing a bottom club

Sadly I agree. 

[Tex Evans Thigh]

Think Wigan, but hope Leigh. In any case I hope Leigh put up a good fight to give them confidence for the season. Games against Wakey, Salford and Hull KR are more important than this.

[Ramon Rojo]

Good luck to Leigh but I can see Wigan handing out a formidable tonking.

Chance for a few up and coming prospects to publicise their skills.

[Jack Russell]

Sorry Leigh, I think this will be a stroll for wigan come the latter stages. All above predictions have it close, I'm going more like wigan by 20+.

[GUBRATS]

16 minutes ago, Jack Russell said:

Sorry Leigh, I think this will be a stroll for wigan come the latter stages. All above predictions have it close, I'm going more like wigan by 20+.

No worries jack , I remember the days when the Wigan fans used to complain if they didn't put a 50 point margin on us

[Jim Prendle]

It's nice to see that the long wait to get back into SL hasn't eroded the Leigh shoulder chip.

Wigan looked awful against Salford in the friendly last week, and without the inspiration from the likes of French and Hastings I can see this being a close game.

[EagleEyePie]

First game of the season anything can happen. You'd expect Wigan to have too much quality in the forwards for Leigh but if the players aren't up to speed yet that could make a difference.

The pack did alright against Salford in the friendly. Conditions were tough, it was a slog but the first teamers in the first half did okay. Nothing special but nothing worrying and they were able to make ground. The issue was Wigan's left edge defence which was vulnerable all game, particularly from kicks. If Lam goes for the same left edge of McDonnell and Bibby there's potential for Leigh to have some joy down that side.

Wigan also didn't create many chances in that game but it was mainly because Salford had good last tackle plays and Wigan's last tackle plays were almost always awful. Smith had probably the worst game I've seen from him but it's a friendly so matters little if he can play to his usual standard when it matters. That's an aspect Wigan need to get right though with Hastings and French absent, along with some of our other strike players in the backs. 

A dominant forward performance and good set completion should be enough to see off a Leigh team that are also missing some players. 

If Leigh keep it tight though there are definitely weak points in the Wigan side to be exploited but I'd still expect Wigan to win.