Leigh didn't create a single try today - we gave away 5 tries. They ran through our forwards at the start of both halves for about 15 minutes like they weren't even there and slowed down our PTB. But realistically they didn't create anything of note, just mindless defending from us on all accounts, from memory.

The comeback was simply awesome. I've not seen anything like it. We went from zeros to heros in no time at all. Who knew Haggerty could be a creative force with his boot?

Today's game was a great advert for the Championship and has made the rivalry ever more enthralling. Games like this will make the fair weather fans want to come more often, and that can only be a good thing.

Also, try the pizza if you haven't already. It was bloody lovely.

Based on this post and some you made earlier in the week, you seem to have some serious bitterness and resentment towards Leigh.
To say they didn't create any tries today is laughable - they played us off the park for 65 minutes and, for reasons that I am still struggling to comprehend, decided to simply stop competing for the last 15 and let us back in it.

Today proved that if your pack is on top, then your backs can be as average as you like and you will still score points. That Leigh pack was far too big for us to handle today, we simply had no answer. Once you lose the forward battle then it is always going to be difficult for your creative players to have any influence on the match.
I'm sure most Leigh fans will agree with me that their backs are nothing special right now. Throw the likes of McNally, Tonga, Kay and Ridyard into that side and they look really strong. But today it didn't even matter, they had so much space that even playing a second rower at 6 paid dividends for them!

I can't believe Jimmy went into that game with us trying to match them up front. It might be different once Clough and Kavanagh are back, but with today's pack we were always going to get mullered if we drove it up the middle. And yet for 65 minutes that's all we did, barely making any inroads and creating nothing as a result.
Has he bothered to look at videos of Leigh's recent games? He can't have, otherwise he would have known their defense out wide was suspect.
Honestly, I just have absolutely no confidence in him as a coach. Tactically he just seems completely amateur, and then when you throw in his comments about us not needing a seven, it makes you wonder how he ever got the gig in the first place.

Final comment - Mitch Clark is an absolute beast, easily our best signing during this off season. He ran his blood to water today and never took a backwards step.

At least Jimmy acknowledges that it was down to his coaching techniques in the post match conference. Hopefully he'll put it right next time given a bit of hindsight.

A broken hand for Sidlow is a blow but hopefully we can get through next week and Clough should be back which will help fill the gap. How many times will Jimmy admit it was probably his fault as the coach before the owner realises that also.

I thought we came out and played to a lower intensity which showed by the various mistakes and penalties we gave away. Our game plan of playing up the middle with a very structured game also played into the hands of Leigh who were much stronger in the forwards. 90% of our carries ended up with the ball carrier being put on his back. That meant our PTB was really slow. In contrast the Leigh forwards either got offloads away or were playing the ball with our tacklers on the floor. With that platform Higham had a field day making ground around the ruck.

At 6-32 with 24mins to go I thought we were in for a serious thrashing. Defensively we were playing like individuals but I thought Lowes stopped the rot when he subbed three forwards. We then seemed to play more expansively, as if the shackles were off. Clare went from having a non descript game to getting us right back into it. I thought Haggerty had a super second spell and Clark really ran his blood to water.

Even though Leigh brought Higham back on it was too late for them. The pendulum had swung and once we got possession it looked like we’d score every time we got the ball in the last 10mins.

I’m glad to see Lowes saying that the draw won’t make up for the 65mins of dross we served up. Plenty to work on and losing Sidlow is a blow since he was the one forward that did anything for us in that first hour. The weakness in the pack going forward is concerning. We need Clough and Kavanagh back soon. I can see us struggling vs Fax and away at Batley unless we show a bit more up front.

I don't think it's wrong. I equate not giving a toss to a lack of effort which was blatantly obvious in that first hour. E.g when Smith wrestled off three players to plant the ball down after being held up just short of the line. Just not good enough. Once their attitude picked up and they realised they had half a chance the game changed and they were exiting to watch.

Having just read all comments. I don't think there's a whole lot extra to add. Agree on performance-wise, the likes of Clare, Haggerty and Clark won it for us in the last 15. I would also add Pitts to that too.

Think problem with our pack is our back rowers are too small. We've got some good props. Pitts, Olbison, Haggerty are all good players, but when you're playing all 3 of them plus Blythe, you are giving away some serious size. For me i would move Lovegrove into back row as he's too small for a prop and i would give Walshaw a run of games. He was MOM last time we played Leigh...

An amazing gamecould[/i have been well and truly hammered but, at the end, another couple of minutes and we [icould[/i have won it - unbelievable. I know that neither side are peaking this early in the season but I'm equally sure neither coach can accept those capitulations, ours early on, and Leigh's at the end.

Blythe tried putting on a big hit and came a distinct second best. If you’re going to fly out of the line then you have to complete the tackle or you leave a huge gap. For me he’s too small to play in the forwards. I agree Lovegrove should be at loose forward with either Clark or Ferguson starting in one of the second row slots alongside Haggerty or Pitts.

Without getting drawn into too much a discussion, I'm not sure how you come to this conclusion about bitterness - I love the rivalry. Secondly, I already said they ran through our forwards like they weren't there, and you have agreed with me. However, if our defending had been more aggressive (or just better), then we wouldn't have given away the pathetic tries we gave away. All 5 were preventable and all in all it was a pathetic display, for 60 minutes.

So to come to a similarly hasty conclusion, I would say that perhaps you read the first few words of my post and gave up.

Firstly, fsck right off! Who the fsck do you think you are?! Your team were shot, and even if they weren't, don't come on here being so fscking rude you ignorant prat, who appointed YOU teh font of all knowledge?

Calm down FA you'll get your blood pressure up again.

Posters from Leigh called Ste aren't the most knowledgeable

Yet another signing for Leigh, even if it is on loan how the hell can they be inside the salary cap!!! www.loverugbyleague.com/news_210 ... aints.html

Yet another signing for Leigh, even if it is on loan how the hell can they be inside the salary cap!!! www.loverugbyleague.com/news_210 ... aints.html