Harry Stottle Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 7 minutes ago, Alffi 7 said: Strong rumours that they have signed Jack Hughes, Matt Davis and Rob Mulhern from Wire. That has been doing the rounds for a couple of months, your take on the 3 please, Hughes as never been a favourite of mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phiggins Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 11 minutes ago, Alffi 7 said: unless that dispensation was given to Latu on grounds of him being god awful. If that's the case, then Leigh should've had plenty given dispensation in our previous seasons in Super League. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeytherRob Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 12 minutes ago, Alffi 7 said: I was always pretty sure Gareth Widdop had an exemption from the Non Fed quota. He moved to Aus when he was 12 I think, but in 2020 we had a squad with the following 'Non Fed' Players 1. Gelling, 2. Austin, 3. Widdop, 4. Murdoch-Masila, 5. Jason Clark, 6. Mamo, 7. Akauola, 8. Latu I always assumed Widdop was given some form of special dispensation, unless that dispensation was given to Latu on grounds of him being god awful. The rules were updated in the last few years to streamline them, as previously it was the overly confusing 5/7 rule with 7 quota in total but only 5 could be non kolpak/European passport holders(or something along those lines, i don't remember the exact wording). So it's possible the wording of the latest rules were written in response to the issues with Widdop as i remember there being quite a lot of speculation at the time he came back to the UK as to whether he'd be exempt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alffi 7 Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 5 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said: That has been doing the rounds for a couple of months, your take on the 3 please, Hughes as never been a favourite of mine. Mulhern: Went ok last year considering those around him, based on performances he was far better than Philbin and Bullock (although Bullock did pick up at the end of the year), but he was out of contract and Philbin/Bullock had multi years left on their contracts, so with lots of new pack members joining for 2023 it was inevitable he would go. I think he is worth a spot as a bench rotation prop. Good signing. Davis: Works hard but not big enough to hold a regular place in the 17 imo. He could do an ok job as a squad player able to cover back row and 9, but don't expect too much. Hughes: Doesn't offer enough attacking threat for me as a back rower, always seems well respected by the coaching staff, does the little things coaches like and was always seen as a leadership figure because of his standards. Defensively very strong, I always thought he suited a 13 role rather than 11/12. Solid enough signing, especially given he doesn't count on the quota. Rumours that Holmes & Bullock could be offloaded too, although haven't heard any specific club mentioned for those. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweaty craiq Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 1 hour ago, Gaz Martin said: LeytherRob, A one year deal with Barrow on the pretence of being suitable for a further deal would most definitely be different than a one year deal of winning a league with Leigh and having no further future at the club pal. Sorry not even remotely similar. Unknowing to yourself you have uncovered the conundrum of the Championship - If a team wants SL you must recruit a team in the Championship that can go up with you, otherwise you will have little chance from the leftovers to stay up. Average age of the Leigh team was mid 20's with their prime ahead of them, we are now going up with a youngish squad that know each other and have recruited some unbelievable new boys to add to it. Lam as a man has been instrumental in some of what we have already signed on the back of players wanting to be a part of the fantastic atmosphere around the club. The facts are that if you are cashed and ambitious then you will be FT in the Championship, but you wont find a squad of SL ready young players in the UK. The challenge is for the PT clubs not cashed and not able to make the transition to SL - this is why FT clubs must be ring fenced with other FT clubs, not by diluting ambition to make an even field for the second tier that would kill that ambition for ever. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Good luck to Beaumont and Leigh, if the English game had 3 or 4 more owners like him it would be in a much better place. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeytherRob Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 16 minutes ago, Alffi 7 said: Mulhern: Went ok last year considering those around him, based on performances he was far better than Philbin and Bullock (although Bullock did pick up at the end of the year), but he was out of contract and Philbin/Bullock had multi years left on their contracts, so with lots of new pack members joining for 2023 it was inevitable he would go. I think he is worth a spot as a bench rotation prop. Good signing. Davis: Works hard but not big enough to hold a regular place in the 17 imo. He could do an ok job as a squad player able to cover back row and 9, but don't expect too much. Hughes: Doesn't offer enough attacking threat for me as a back rower, always seems well respected by the coaching staff, does the little things coaches like and was always seen as a leadership figure because of his standards. Defensively very strong, I always thought he suited a 13 role rather than 11/12. Solid enough signing, especially given he doesn't count on the quota. Rumours that Holmes & Bullock could be offloaded too, although haven't heard any specific club mentioned for those. I'd be happy to take Bullock if Wire are looking to shift him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweaty craiq Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, The Future is League said: How does Lachlan Lam exempt from the quota rules when he's played for PNG at senior level? Caleb Aiken will be playing for Wales in the WC does that make him exempt from quota based on your rules? Edited October 4, 2022 by sweaty craiq Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Martin Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 2 minutes ago, sweaty craiq said: Unknowing to yourself you have uncovered the conundrum of the Championship - If a team wants SL you must recruit a team in the Championship that can go up with you, otherwise you will have little chance from the leftovers to stay up. Average age of the Leigh team was mid 20's with their prime ahead of them, we are now going up with a youngish squad that know each other and have recruited some unbelievable new boys to add to it. Lam as a man has been instrumental in some of what we have already signed on the back of players wanting to be a part of the fantastic atmosphere around the club. The facts are that if you are cashed and ambitious then you will be FT in the Championship, but you wont find a squad of SL ready young players in the UK. The challenge is for the PT clubs not cashed and not able to make the transition to SL - this is why FT clubs must be ring fenced with other FT clubs, not by diluting ambition to make an even field for the second tier that would kill that ambition for ever. I hear ya Sweaty and completely understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jughead Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 19 minutes ago, sweaty craiq said: Caleb Aiken will be playing for Wales in the WC does that make him exempt from quota based on your rules? No, I’m sure Scottish James Bell counts on Saints’ quota. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cw25 Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Derek is so wrong wanting to push Leigh on and on. I mean, How bad is it for him to put money into the game and want his club to win things ?. Go on guys, Carry on insulting..... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moove Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Well it's a far more positive thing to be saying than offering people a fight on social media like earlier in the year. So thumbs up from me. If in 3-5 years that means we've got another strong competitive club challenging for honours then great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATLANTISMAN Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Met Derek for the first time at the Broncos the other week we were both at the bar complaining there was no peanuts:) Had a pleasant chat he certainly scores 10 out of 10 for putting his money in. Paul 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binosh Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 I’m glad we have somebody with ambition and financial clout to make these kind of statements. it’s refreshing to see other than the usual culprits spouting off how times are tough and they have no money and can’t spend the cap. He’s been at Leigh for 10 years now and he hasn’t always got it right, at the end of the day he may be a successful businessman but he’s had to learn a lot about owning a rugby league club and I think he’s finally getting it. Imagine how good SL would be if there were another 4/5 people like Derek pushing the sport, driving the on field product and pushing boundaries. This team may have now set the blue print for the championship and I can guarantee Keighley will follow the same process. As for signing so many imports, ALL of those players have gotten deals either at Leigh or elsewhere on decent money for being part of a title winning Champ team, it looks great in their CV when their agents are doing business. Exciting times for Leigh I just hope the RFL allow us to have an academy/reserves. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Septimius Severus Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Edwin Ipape - not assigned to a club after being sacked by PNG Hunters Caleb Aekins - I believe his sole intention was to get into the World Cup team for Wales, before returning to the NRL Kai O'Donnell - 3 NRL games before being dropped to 2nd tier Nene McDonald - NRL experience but played 2021 in the Queensland Cup Ata Hingano - Released by Salford played 5 games Krisnan Inu - Played 6 games for FC Lézignan XIII - rescued from semi-retirement Blake Ferguson - Aussie International and all round bad boy (Not the first and not the last to wash up on these shores) Sam Stone - 2 Seasons at Leigh Mark Ioane - 3 Seasons at Leigh Jy Hitchcox - A regular in the UK and released by Toulouse Tom Amone - 17 games in 3 seasons in the NRL John Asiata - A NRL regular who refused to take a Covid jab, available by luck Ben Nakabuwai - History missing in the Covid years between Salford and Leigh Lachlan Lam - Son of coach Adrian All available for different reasons, some have gained experience and will go back into the NRL, some are staying in the Championship and others are contracted to Leigh in Super League. All have benefitted in some way from arrangement and nobody appears to be without a contract. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweaty craiq Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 3 hours ago, LeytherRob said: I'd be happy to take Bullock if Wire are looking to shift him Rather have Hill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREPOSTEROUS Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Great he's got the ambition but the reality will much harder. Leigh have had three goes already, spent big a few years back then crashed and burned. If they are a regular in SL in five years time pushing top six they will have done well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 All the overseas players signed by Leigh would have known what the deal was. If anything, it would create great incentive to perform and not be deemed surplus to requirements. Not a bad dilemma for the club and its fans! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeytherRob Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 12 minutes ago, sweaty craiq said: Rather have Hill Why not both? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawkMan Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 I've genuinely enjoyed watching Leigh this year, and it'll be good for SL if they establish themselves as a SL regular, and it is possible that Leigh could win SL, just as it's possible Ireland can win RLWC, Bournemouth can win the Premier League and Lewis Hamilton could win the F1 championship driving a Morris Minor. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeytherRob Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 5 minutes ago, Dave W said: All the overseas players signed by Leigh would have known what the deal was. If anything, it would create great incentive to perform and not be deemed surplus to requirements. Not a bad dilemma for the club and its fans! Exactly, I'd rather be in then situation we are now than in previous forays into SL when we were desperately searching for overseas players well into the season and subsequently ending up with poor quality imports. We'll have comfortably the best 7(or 8 if Lam is off quota) overseas players we've ever had in 2023 and they're all fully integrated into the club already, with a decent blend of youth and experience. For the first time as a Leigh fan also, I would confidently say we have 2 players in Ipape and Asiata that would get in any 17 in SL. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derwent Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 5 hours ago, Damien said: How would he be when he played at St Pats for years? As far as I’m aware he started playing RL at 14 and then moved to Oz at 16 so only had 2 years playing RL here. I’m not prejudiced, I hate everybody equally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 1 minute ago, Derwent said: As far as I’m aware he started playing RL at 14 and then moved to Oz at 16 so only had 2 years playing RL here. What you are aware of is incorrect then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweaty craiq Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 2 hours ago, ATLANTISMAN said: Met Derek for the first time at the Broncos the other week we were both at the bar complaining there was no peanuts:) Had a pleasant chat he certainly scores 10 out of 10 for putting his money in. Paul Didnt look like John Wayne after 3 months cattle herding did he?? I ask because they had just done the bike Ride for the kids charity which raised £24k, and thank you Broncos for contributing to that figure btw, a figure that Derek agreed to match so £48k has been sent to life 4 a kid. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 1 hour ago, binosh said: I’m glad we have somebody with ambition and financial clout to make these kind of statements. it’s refreshing to see other than the usual culprits spouting off how times are tough and they have no money and can’t spend the cap. He’s been at Leigh for 10 years now and he hasn’t always got it right, at the end of the day he may be a successful businessman but he’s had to learn a lot about owning a rugby league club and I think he’s finally getting it. Imagine how good SL would be if there were another 4/5 people like Derek pushing the sport, driving the on field product and pushing boundaries. This team may have now set the blue print for the championship and I can guarantee Keighley will follow the same process. As for signing so many imports, ALL of those players have gotten deals either at Leigh or elsewhere on decent money for being part of a title winning Champ team, it looks great in their CV when their agents are doing business. Exciting times for Leigh I just hope the RFL allow us to have an academy/reserves. You think Keighley will spend like Leigh have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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