https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/le ... macdonald/ Looking positive - but they must retain Tom Amone, he is the standout forward this season. Obviously SL clubs will be sniffing for such a hard working prop.

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/le ... macdonald/ Looking positive - but they must retain Tom Amone, he is the standout forward this season. Obviously SL clubs will be sniffing for such a hard working prop.

Great news and agreed re Amone.
Nice thing is that A Lam says that we have more than just Nene locked up for next season also. this kind of forward thinking and commitment will ensure that we have a strong second half to the season, with players seeing that the club has big ambition, long term plans and effort will be rewarded.

For my money Adrian Lam is one of the shrewdest signings the club has made and for this reason I hope DB is making every effort to keep him tied to the club as well.

I like what he is doing on the back of DB's funding of the player signings. Whilst the attack is a steadily improving work in progress he has certainly fixed our traditionally flaky defence. I also sense that he is the reason why some of the impressive signings have come to the club. After all, and as we all know, he is a PNG legend! Enough said to any perspective signing.

The good thing for me is that when interviewed, particularly on TV, he comes across as being quite happy. I think that in itself is a good sign and perhaps a small indicator that all is well, both at the club and with him personally. Let's hope that he has a really big smile on his face come the final whistle next Saturday and, most importantly, at the end of the season.

Yes, agreed, that Amone must be retained at all costs. What on earth are we doing with a prop of this calibre. Whoever at the club is responsible for his signing must be complimented. What a find.

I know that this thread is about player retentions but i am still going to say it here that, having gone to Batley on Monday night, that I still have one of the smugest smiles on my face 4 days later. I liked very much what i witnessed. What a win against traditionally tricky opponents on their sloping backyard. What a statement of intent. For the first time this season i am prepared to say, bring on Fev, we are now ready for them. Things are building nicely. Now let's win DB his Cup back!

Completely agree with your full post, it's a shame we have to cut some of the overseas players if we go up and I'm glad I don't have to do that job as there will be some difficult conversations. Lam looks happy, Chester looks happy and the players looked very happy at Batley. That performance the other night made me dip into my pocket and pay the £100 for next week, as finances are short at the minute.

Regarding Amone I do believe that was Chesters find as he wanted him for Wakey but they missed out. He's a top 4 prop forward so I hope he is one of the players that are already signed up. I'd be surprised if players were signing if Lam wasn't staying but I'd get Lam signed up on a 2 year deal. He's a model professional and he knows how to build a squad.

Overseas Players

McDonald - Keep
Ipape - freedom of the town of Leigh
Amone - Pay what him what he wants just keep him
Fergyferg4 - Top class entertainment
Asiata - Keep
Stone - Keep
Inu - now aged 35 might be his swansong
Ioane - not sure
Hingano - release
Nakubuwei - Too early to tell
Hitchcox - The forgotten man

O'Donnell - British family - so keep
Aekins - Welsh mother - a keeper

6 overseas positions tied up - leaving 1 slots with a little wriggle room for a half back to come over at the back end of the season and for next year.

Tough to argue against your calls.
I would keep Aekins regardless (or despite ) him being of Welsh origin.
O’Donnell is a personal favourite of mine, but would be likely a strong squad player at SL level. If not a Brit background, that may have cost him but for me he is a keeper for next season.

Stone?

Stone is a keeper- Apologies for missing off (still room for a half back)

Who do we keep of English origin?

I'd keep:
Brand
Mellor
Wardle (if he's not on much as he would be a squad player)
Chamberlain (squad player)
Green (I think he will be great when back fit and he's reliable with the ball)
Smith.

If we were to go up then we will need to sign quite a few to compete but I understand the club are already doing this.

May as well join in with my personal take so far ....
McDonald Already signed ✅️
Ipape An absolute must sign
Amone Again must sign
Asiata - Yes
Ferguson - Yes, (if he really wants it) like what I've seen.
Stone - Yes, solid, no nonesense.
Ioane - Also a maybe (done nothing wrong though)
O'Donnell - Yes, keep. He's solid & gets through a mountain of work, very good.
Aekins I don't think the British passport thing is relevant anymore , so far it's a Yes - keep.
Hingano - not seen enough from him (yet) so release
Inu - Release based on age
Nakubuwei - plenty better - Release

Edit.

I think that's 7 I've picked with Ioane so maybe 1 gets cut. Also assuming all those that Chester & Lam approach actually want to sign or are not hunted with much bigger money from Super League or NRL Club's (in the case of Ipape & Ferguson maybe)

I would like to see Leigh at least try to sign James McDonnell from Wigan & Dan Norman from St Helens, impressed by both when they have played for Leigh.

Celebrating retentions is fine, but Bongser is unsure as to how helpful get shut/shot posts are. He is of the opinion that the players' first point of reference after a game will not be the thoughts of we few, we band of brothers but should one of the players stumble across negative comments, it won't give them a confidence boost.

Furthermore, pretty certain that Lam knows a few things more than we do.

Bongser supports at LSV, occasionally elsewhere, at work when trapped there and on here. That's his MO but everyone is different and will be respected by this quarter too.

I would be very surprised if McDonnell is not a Leigh player next season.

Lam clearly rates him and says as much every time he mentions him. He is back again with the club and likely to play over the next couple of games. I could be wrong, but i also thought that i saw him with the team (Leigh) in the warm-up at White Hart Lane last Saturday.

McDonnell, in interview, has spoken of the need for him to be playing regularly to continue his development which he is not getting at Wigan. He also speaks well of his time with Leigh and of his good player coach relationship with Lam.

I think that the stars are aligned on this one and would be more surprised if he is not announced over the next few months as a new signing for next season

McDonnell (the Wigan one) is a player we definitely need to tie up on a 3 year deal, Wigans young players aren’t on big money.

I think we will release Hitchcox, Hingano and Inu even though I really rate Inu he has completely solidified that left edge defensively.

I’d be keeping

Ipape
Asiata
McDonald
Amone
Stone
Ferguson

I believe Aekins & McDonnell have British passports so keep them and we have one spot left, could we re-attempt for Lachlan Lam if we go up?

Charnley is a good pick up if we go for him and I’d like to retain-

Brand
Mellor
Chamberlain
Sidlow
Wardle
Smith
Reynolds
Nisbett (utility)
Roberts (young still)

Mark Ioane is a great player and I would love to keep him, does he count on the quota still? Samisoni Langi now qualifies for France on residency rules had Ioane been here the same amount of time?