Absolutely right. None of us know but that's the beauty of having an opinion and I respect anyone here who holds a different opinion to my own.

At the end of the day we all support the same club and we sometimes watch the same things but come to different conclusions. Long may that continue.

Speculation as to what is going to happen is all part of the fun of being a fan.

I'm amazed we haven't got a quality goal-kicker as some of the tight results will be decided by goal-kicking. I assume Macintosh and Gaz will be the goal-kickers, unless 1 of the new lads is proficient in that task. However, it's been reported Macintosh has picked up an injury in training. I'm sure it will be sorted eventually. Lam and Chester know what they're doing.

Reports that Huddersfield are in talks with Jacob Miller for the 2025 season. Just goes to show the lack of quality half backs available at this moment in time - I'm happy we're not going down a similar route of taking the dregs on offer. O'Brien and McNamara are good enough options to start the season with hopefully something to add as we progress.

https://www.leighjournal.co.uk/sport/24 ... -leopards/ "Lam also hasn’t given up hope of son Lachlan extending his stay at Leigh Sports Village beyond the end of the coming new season. Speaking at the club’s pre-season media day, Lam said: “We are one of only two or three clubs who have space on the cap and potentially a quota spot if we need to." Interesting language from Lammy Snr.

https://www.leighjournal.co.uk/sport/24 ... -leopards/ "Lam also hasn’t given up hope of son Lachlan extending his stay at Leigh Sports Village beyond the end of the coming new season. Speaking at the club’s pre-season media day, Lam said: “We are one of only two or three clubs who have space on the cap and potentially a quota spot if we need to." Interesting language from Lammy Snr.

“Potentially a quota spot” presume that is related to big Ben but seems a strange situation, using that logic surely any other club could offload a contracted quota player to make room for another

Guessing other clubs won't have a quota player that they are already looking to move on. Seen a suggestion on here that he triggered an extra year on his contract with his number of appearances last year. Which if is the case means that Lam was mistaken in continually giving him 5-10 min appearances before he got injured last season.

Overall, we need Armstrong, Niu and Liu to have good seasons. If they do, we should make the 6 again. If any of them struggle to settle, then it will be a difficult season.

Isaac Liu was used sparingly last season 30 or 40 minutes a game. He does a lot of tackling but looks ponderous even when running out before kick off. Loads of experience in big games. Will help the younger players with his experience.

Niu looks suspect in defence. Hopefully, the move to Leigh will do him good.

Armstrong is a class act. He can catch pigeons. Can only get better and better. Needs Lam or Gaz kicking over top of defence for Armstrong to run onto. Like Svabic used to do for Turley.

When I knew we had signed Liu and Nue, I watched them closely. Liu only played two ten minute spots and was very quiet in games, and that was all season, so very little game time. Nue played very little nrl, came on as sub a couple of times. He played well in nsw cup, but looked overweight when I did see him. Hopefully a full pre season training will get him where he should be. I am a little nervous of these two if I’m honest. Time will tell. As for Armstrong, if we get the tactics right and play to this guys strengths, then he will be amazing. Can’t wait for the season to start.

To be fair to Liu, the difference between the NRL and superleague in terms of speed and physicality is night and day. Luke Thompson is a 70 minute player in SL but couldn't hack the NRL. I'd expect Liu to be able to bigger minutes for us - doesn't have to be a 80 minute player with the Ipape at loose forward option.

I am bit skeptical about a 2 year contract for him though in truth.

In fairness, with the exception of early days in the 2022 season when we needed to put ANY team on the pitch (and with the exception of a Round 2 loss at Fev and a squeaky bum CCup tie agin Bradford, that worked out well), Chez, Lam and Degsy have not brought in too many post-Christmas turkeys - though one seems at the mo to be stuck to the sole of our collective boot.

Lam is a great coach, regardless of what Wigan "fans (?)" "think (?)"

One of Derek's greatest achievements

Leigh Leopards
2019 average attendance: 3,194
2024 average attendance: 8,391

Change: +5,197

Ranks just below winning the Challenge Cup.