Right that's all the negativity sorted lets look to the future, this Sunday & the start of the season to be precise. Been looking forward to this for a while.
Weather looks like rain, a wet, cold, windy, rainy Mount Pleasant will be quite a culture shock to some of our new players, part of me thinks we should perhaps stick to mostly players who know what to expect, though it might be a good bonding experience, been a while since the Marine Camp.

Think it'll be a tough physical game as Batley games usually are but I think our pack has really stood out in the friendlies so we should come out on top down the middle and I think it is likely to be a low scoring forwards dominated game in difficult conditions. If I was Batley I'd try to get our outside backs doing a lot of tackling especially tackling some of their more powerful players if they can and naturally be peppering whoever we have as full back with spinning high balls in the (probably) wet slippery conditions. Hopefully we'll have a good ref who'll keep a lid on everything & stop any trouble before it starts.

Leigh 18 Batley 8

wp.me/p5zizl-1M A guide to batley's ground

wp.me/p5zizl-1M A guide to batley's ground

1. Brierley
2. Higson
3. Worthington
4. Armstrong
5. Kay
6. Ridyard
7. Chase
8.Weston
9.Higham
10. Emmitt
11. Dixon
12. Hansen
13. Paterson

Subs:
Beswick
Hock
Hopkins
Maitua

Acton/Moimoi/Spencer/Pownall all in with a good shout also. The forwards are really hard to choose between. Fui could be deadly going down that hill at Batley. Hock was easily our best player against Wire, hopefully he can carry that form into Sunday.

It will be nice to listen to dave Parky again on a sunday afternoon.

Riddy and Ryan at 6 and7,Rangi at full back( if fit)

Nope, was only a 1 match ban for something from his final game at Salford.

Great little ground, I love going , but nearly always get lost.

Hope we play to the shallow end first half

Me too, I think they keep moving that biscuit factory

If conditions are bad (or in fact anyway) Batley will be booting high difficult balls to whoever is at full back. If I was Jukes during the week I'd be having a catch off between Brierley & Pownall with wet muddy balls, whoever does best gets the number 1 shirt. Have to have Higson on the wing rather than Pownall as he's better defensively against Batley's big players. If it is wet & muddy doubt it'll be much of a game for the playmakers so with Rangi & Ryan both coming back from injuries I'd play whoever was fittest, last thing we need is to exacerbate an injury.

Apparently LISA are up to Coach number 4 already plus another coach from one of the pubs. I would imagine the minibus lads will also be going plus plenty going in cars on the day. Not bad with nearly a week still to go! Should be a huge following from the Leythers come 3pm on Sunday!!

Neil Jukes Barmy Army!

Are we forgetting that we also have Mati Pala and Eze Harper who can both play wing if Adam goes to full back. We have Reni who can fill in at centre. We have a rich diverse squad and with the addition of one utility back we would be complete. I have no worries at the moment that we are going to go well again this season. For the full season.

Mr C, can I ask you ,are you Charlie the Clown in another identity?