Not surprising.

Cant blame them rather have no injuries at the start of the season

It would be nice of the club to put something on the website advising those that bought tickets, that they can get a refund. At the moment, it still says they're looking at getting it rearranged.

Social Media channels say you can get a refund, but not everyone uses those. The website should be updated really.

Edit: I've since seen that it is on the website, but in the story about buying tickets for the Leeds game, rather than updating the story about the Hudds game being called off.

Marc Greens dedication to the long term is amazing. He is prepared to forgo the profits of this friendly rather than rearrange but at a time that interferes with the training cycle leading up to the Leigh game.

TBH I suspect profits from friendly wouldn't have been massive anyway. Don't we share gates from friendlies with opposition (unless it's a testimonial). Subtract costs of opening stand,stewards and bar staff etc and probably a turnout of about 4k and I reckon any profit would have been less 10k at best.

I understand Marc hopes you get within 18 of us that day, so every session is vital

I suspect you might 'nick' the game, if I'm honest. We no longer have our SL team and have a several new players to fit into our squad, some top quality and a number which are yet unproven and imo, you have the more 'settled' squad and are at home.

I think Martin was probably referring to the seasons's opening game, rather than the fact it is against Leigh, when he mentions our build up. Though, of course, we, and you, all know that the [ireally[/i important games will be in the second half of the season - aka 'The Business End'!

Indeed Bulliac, I was not going to respond to such a tongue in cheek post full stop but as you have put the words in my mouth (thanks btw, far more polite than I would have been) I shall be more technically precise. the term is periodicity, which means that you build peaks into the programme whether the actual workout itself (interval training) the week the month the season the four years between olympics etc etc. The squads programmes have been built around peaks for the friendlies leading to the first game of the season/Leigh game, so the whole squad probably had to go in anyway on Sunday or Monday and sweat their Bulls off. Consequently it would be difficult to rearrange the Hudds game for a day or two later as the whole peak effort /recovery cycle would be out of phase, they would be in the recovery not the hit out phase. I would imagine that the build up ends at the first game of the season as they will probably change on the weights front from muscle building ie low reps high weight to stamina/maintenance ie more reps lower (its all relative though!) weight.

Spot on Martin.

I do think some of our friends from Leigh haven't yet worked this out though, and are putting far too much emphasis on the first game of the season. I do hope they are getting this message, that the game is some kind of 'cup final', from their club and that the Leigh management haven't worked it out either...though I strongly suspect they aren't as daft as some of their fans!

I think we may well lose against Leigh and I wouldn't be all that surprised if their cohesion meant the scoreline looks a little unflattering (36-18 anyone?). I won't be reading a great deal into it whatever happens.

In terms of cohesion it is possible to put out much of the team that was winning against a number of good SL sides at the end of last season, much of the pack other than the front row which arguably should be more cohesive with more specialist props rather than ball playing LFs, etc, and the backs from 2 to 6 if Henry plays wing. Ok nos 1 and 7 have to be new and are pivotal players, but have Leigh not had a few players coming in? I think its more the way Jimmy is getting them to play, and again that should have carry-over from last season. so in conclusion, given all the variables I cannot guess a result, so credit to our Leigh colleague for having crystal balls.

A score of 36-18 against would be absolutely unacceptable. Those were the sort of scorlines in SL last year, the defence then was unacceptable and would be even more so in the Championship. I can't believe that Jimmy will have put together a team which can't defend.

The bookies have the two teams pretty even and they are not usually too far out.

As far as the game against Leigh is concerned I would argue that it is a must win game for Leigh and why not for us, even though it is the first game of the season.

Bearing in mind how Leigh would want to stand come season end. "The business end" as has been quoted is not a place where we are left in a battle.

The lads, have to want to smash it first time out.

Partly agree. In terms of direct impact on the end of season, not of massive importance.

But, in terms of seeing progress, continuing momentum, continuing the growing optimism among fans, it's much more (indirectly) important.

An excellent overall performance, resulting in a win of any kind (from total domination to "squeaky bum" time) could quite easily see another few hundred season ticket sales in the following week before our first home game.

Even a narrow but competitive & exciting loss would still be sort of acceptable, on our first game, away, at one of the strongest challengers in the championship.

But a poor performance, and/or a thumping defeat could undermine a lot of the good work already done amongst the fans.

And that is what is exciting about this game.

I notice Leigh still have another 2games before they face us, 1st and 8th February then straight into our game.