What's even more baffling is that we've signed Caro because we apparently had no pace on the flanks. He wasn't perfect, but when Ulugia played he looked pretty fast to me. Instead he's been shipped out to Oxford and now Batley. It's like we've realised we need pace and so we've signed the fastest free agent we can find. Pace on the wings isn't the only issue with our team at the moment.

Hmm - bit of a technicality there, I'm not entirely convinced it doesn't matter who was and wasn't with us last season, as it's easier to talk to players who are already at the club, SL contract or not and papers over the cracks that - IMO - recruitment for players outside of the club has turned out to be a bit poor (even allowing for the Gareth O Brian Situation which was just bad luck). I agree we've done well to keep the amount of 2014 players we have, but I don't think much that has come in since October has really complimented what we already had.

The subject of purchasing a team that on paper that should win does not fit. Look at the Salfords team sheet. Failed!! Great and good players just exist without a coach having to "Train them" If we had got Leon Price, what a massive difference he would have made. Going back at some greats in the game Peter Sterling, Big Jim Mills, Barry Seabourne, even more recent Paul Deacon, the Paul brothers the list goes on. Yes they play within a game plan BUT the strategics embrace the natural flow of the players talents. We are not a fly on the wall and don't know what is going on. However the Philosophy should be that players should be able to bring there natural skills and utilise them freely. Credit where credit is due and not wanting to sound like a Judas, Leigh are maximising that potential and can be clearly seen.

JL mentioned that he wanted players to express themselves, well that's not happening is it. It was mentioned that the club would prefer coming second, Pathetic, Winners go out to win every single time anything less than that is unforgivable.

Forget and Ignore the excuses ... this club has some really quality players and should be winning comfortably in the championship.

If players are being used in a way that dilutes there ability somebody in authority who knows the game should step in and sort it. Somebody take some leadership.

Snippets from Lowes' reaction:
Rubbish ... first half we were a disgrace ... not interested in stats, I know we dropped too much ball ... don't talk stats to me, I know what the problem is .. we lost the game in the first half.

Also sounded as if he thinks Mullaney has a pretty concerning hamstring problem.

If he deals with the players like he deals with the press it's no wonder the team isn't firing. He's sulky, petulant and full of attitude - all of which you could forgive if the coaching pedigree was there. But it isn't. You can call me to order but I'm going to be bold and say Lowes is WORSE THAN McNAMARA.

There are obvious issues with the squad around play making options; injury record of signings, relative youth, no back up 7, no real captain etc.

This doesn't really explain why our forwards have consistently lost the arm wrestle in the first half of possibly the majority of games. We are regularly out enthused and the opposition who have apparently worked all week are more aggressive. Sidlow says in the paper that he is tired on the pitch which would explain why he has been so poor. As others have said the only prop who has regulatory won the collision has been sent to Keighley while we can't get out of our own 40 metre area for 15 minutes at a time.

The players look exhausted but apart from the front row who he has inexplicably run to water the other players haven't played too much. Are we over training? Has he upset them. They look like they don't want to be there. He repeatedly says we are turning over too much possession and therefore don't have the energy to compete but we are 2nd best from the whistle. His attitude in the press conference to perfectly reasonable enquiries is also unnecessary.

Missing from yesterday's team:
Gaskell ( our main attacking threat and organiser)
Purtell ( our best centre)
Olbison ( the most improved forward)
Clough ( with Pitts , the most consistent forward)
Williams ( top try scorer)
All of these players would be in my ( and I suspect the coaches) starting team.
Leigh without their equivalent players might not struggle to win but would not be winning so easily.
If/when these 5 return I still believe we have a decent chance in the Super 8's.

I can't believe Mullaney is injured AGAIN. Seven tries in two games and now he's crocked again. That's probably him done for the season.
I find myself wondering how this season might have turned out if Mullaney's hamstrings weren't made of tissue paper

Is it just a bad run of luck for Mullaney or is he just one of those players who picks up more injuries than most? He's looked good when he's played but it just hasn't been often enough and I would haves some reservations about signing him up again for next year. We need our best players fit for the big games if we are to stand any chance in these ones sided middle 8's promotion dream.

If it's true that we're after Roberts from the NRL then I can see us releasing Siejka and not giving Mullaney or Purtell (or both) new deals.
Mendieka will probably be our 1 for next season, and while I don't think he is anywhere close to being as much of an attacking threat as Mullaney, I think that will be our level next season and gradually while we remain in this league, that is how the rest of the squad will go as well.
Purtell will be on a decent wedge I reckon, and the reality is that he's just not good enough. For a centre, his pace and agility are way off. Even his defence has been poor this season. I respect the guy for what he went through and came back from, but there's no room for sentiment in sport. I'll be disappointed if he (and Walker) get new deals.

Perhaps Sheffield had more to play for, whereas we had already achieved our objective. If the manager has already met his objective then maybe the squad have switched off slightly. It remains to be seen whether they could switch back on.

Another beasting for your players this week with Lowes and Harrison in charge. No wonder they are knackered.

I'm not sure that the tiredness is something to worry too much about. It appears to me that we're in pre season mode, both physically and mentally. If the training regime is geared to achieving peak fitness for the Middle 8s, rather than the next game, then it wouldnt be a surprise if we look tired now. I dont really think any of the players, apart from possibly O'Brien, have had too punishing a schedule. It really should be a case of heavy training sessions on Thursdays and Fridays rather than too many games.

There's plenty of time to get the players fresh for the Middle 8s.