[listBrilliant performance by both teams in testing conditions think If it would of been dry we would of ran up more of a score! Big difference from last year for me was fitness and line speed especially! Spencer looked a new beast strong and fit even moi moi give a good 25 min stint!! Though Hopkins and Acton were good when on! Big competition in the pack! Hansen was class as expected!! Weston has got a good pair of hands and Dixon was good today! Wouldn't like pick 8 players week in week out in the pack! Hats off to Wigan they have got some real stars in the making there! The number 9 for them was outstanding

Negatives:

Paterson limping off, hope he is ok!

Lacked cohesion and passing was very erratic at times.

Not turning up for the 1st 15 minutes and only switching on at 0 - 14 down!

Gregg's pass to... erm... nobody behind the try line, Charnley will never have an easier try!

Positives:

We won!

Good crowd and atmosphere.

Pitch was fantastic, no snow, mud or frost and both teams were able to throw the ball around despite the conditions.

Pack went very well and dominated the middle of the field.

2nd rowers were superb. Hansen clear choice for MoM and Dixon I think did the full 80 and got through a tonne of work.

Riddy controlled things very well.

Spencer looks an absolute beast this year, best prop on the pitch today.

Everyone looks in good shape, Gaz Hock looks 3 stone lighter than when he 1st came from Salford.

Kids did well, Foster especially had some classy touches near the end.

All in all a good run out, lots of chopping and changing throughout the match but everyone got some much needed game time.

I thought our pack looked excellent, if we can pass the ball to one of our forwards on the run we'll make huge meters and score lots of trys. Fitness looked very good. Thought Weston put in a lot of work and came off not even looking out of breath, Spencer also looks to have bulked up & played well think we didn't see enough of him last year hopefully see more of him now, though Acton's try barging over the line from 5 m with 4 or so players on his back was the highlight of the game. Thought Patterson looked good trying and organising lots of things, some came off some didn't, hopefully that's due to being out of practise and game time will improve that. On the down side our defence was totally unacceptable especially 1st half and out wide, that seriously needs improving; but seemed to improve 2nd half as we got going. We mad a lot of very silly mistakes and were poor ball handling including knocking on when not even under pressure; hopefully again it's just rustiness and will improve with more competitive game time. Thought we were actually the slower team, w!g@n were quicker than us on the break, don't know if we've tried to bulk up for extra strength and cost us a bit of speed but if that's the case we need to defend a lot better.

All in all looks very promising but you could tell they haven't played a competitive game for months and Paul & the lads still have plenty work to do before going to Mount Pleasant. So, bring on the Wire next week.

Heard after the match Patterson is ok and Brierley will play next week.

That's great news Frank.

Score?

26 - 20 to Leigh.

Leigh started absolutely awful and were 14 nil down early on before taking charge as the game went on.

I thought riddy was off his game today (IMO).First game so not worried in the slightest. Rangis passing was class, but looked dodgy catching from the kick off. We still force passes that aren't on and play panic rugby at times, something we should of learned from last season. Very Happy with how we got back from 14-0 down though, we still have that never say die attitude which is pleasing. Great game and full credit to wigan they Deffo wanted to win and played till the end. Good test and lots to look forward to.

A good early hit out to blow off the cobwebs and a good win v a SL side.
Actons try was worth the admittance fee as it showed what can be done with determination as he took 4 tacklers over the line with him.
Thought all the new lads did well with Patterson and Weston looking very good.
Foster coming on looked a handy option and generally we looked to have options in a number of positions today which is really encouraging.
Enjoyed it

Good game I thought today.

I agree with Nozzy in that for me, H. Hansen was a class above today & very good value for his MoM.
Our pack were dominant & excellent, if they go like that in the 8's we will have a chance.

I also agree with Sir Sparrow of Lowton, Tom Spencer was immense, looked super solid, alert & big. Sir Sparrow is also correct in saying that Wigan were quicker than Leigh, faster PTB & faster on the break.

For me Hansen, Patterson & Weston were the pick of our off season signings, all played well.

On the flipside I thought Rangi was quite disappointing & Greg McNally was very disappointing, way off his usual standard & also needs to get over his fear of returning the ball or grow a pair, whatever, it wasn't his best display, despite the try.
The pass behind the line that lead to Gypo Charnley's try was a real coach killer.

Plenty of positives to take away from today's game for Leigh, as have Wigan, they had some real quality & talent in their young lads & I think we might see a few of them to go onto bigger things.

All in all, a lot to be pleased about & excited now to get the season under way.

Awesome pack, average backs with halfbacks disappointing.

Not a day for halfbacks to stand out! Tough conditions to chuck the ball about think rangi thought he's fingers were going to fall off at one point! The pack is miles better this year which is what cost us last year we know what our backs can do I wouldn't worry!!

Some good ,some not so good,Rangi had a quiet game as has been said he must learn to catch the ball at the kick off, I thought Sam Powell had a good game and he's a good prospect,I thought we missed Ryan Brierley ,with Rangi at 6 and Brierley at 7 we will be better I thought both Pownall and Foster looked good when they came on, it's early days but I wasn't impressed,I was disappointed with the 500 Wiganers who turned up to watch.

It's obvious teams will challenge and pressure Rangi, trying to make him make a mistake so hopefully in training that's what we're doing. Should be getting both Gregg and Rangi practising taking difficult high kicks. I'm not to bothered about still doing the off the cuff rugby so long as our defence improves, hopefully the number of panic passes were just players being out of practise & not yet used to playing with each other knowing who wants what type of player where when they have the ball. Looking forward to seeing the improvement at the Warrington game.

Ah, but neither of them are particularly 'organisers'. Personally, I don't think we can afford to leave Martyn Ridyard out.