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?

https://twitter.com/LeighCenturions/sta ... 5211259904 Ipape signs till 2025

https://twitter.com/LeighCenturions/sta ... 5211259904 Ipape signs till 2025

Absolutely great news. He is good now but i think that there is more in the tank and that he will only get better.

Also great news were the comments of DB that accompanied the announcement of Edwin's contract extension. Long term financial commitment to the club reiterated. This is crucial news for the club and for us supporters. There's plenty to smile about right now. Could be a hell of a lot worse - could be a Fev fan!

Blummin' 'Eck! Great news. 'Er indoors is trying to drag Bongser out for an even lengthier walk than the one last night that left him footsore. Now walking on air!!! COYL!

Absolutely brilliant news about Ipape. He's the best hooker we've had since a young Mickey Higham. I'm confident we will retain Amone and Asiata and a few others, including Fergie. I am also confident with Lam and Chester we will get to SL at the end of the season. I am also confident that this time, we will challenge in SL and when the leagues are restructured that we will be in SL1. Credit has to go to DB. He's learned from his past mistakes and recruited a top coaching set up to attract the top players. We'll done DB. Good Times are back at Leigh and even more successful years are ahead of us. A Challenge Cup final could be ours in a few years time. Congratulations to everyone at Leigh. Oh, Edwin Ipape!!!

WYSIWYG, dissing your own post takes sarcasm to a whole new level and for that you should be rightly lauded & applauded. Please allow us lesser mortals our moment of Ipappiness though.

Btw is anyone else getting "Bad request" error messages when attempting to move between threads (or trying anything else for that matter)?

im not getting too carried away. Lots of work still to do but I feel that we are looking to retain our players now which tells me we are in a good place.

DB is actually being a Chairman and proof in the pudding that leaving it to the 'professionals' rather than 'best mates' is the best policy all round. The 2 PNG players confirmed, I believe Asiata is optional, Amone is a must and if Ferguson wants to stay, why not? I think Aekins doesn't count on the quota and I am not too sure if Sam Stone does too (could be wrong) but one good quality Half back could solidify one of the best Leigh team we have seen for many,many years.

One thing is for sure, It is certainly the best pack I have seen and to be fair, thats all you need in the Championship really.

This news brought a huge smile to my face, which is how I react many times per game when Edwin has the ball in hand or someone is crazy enough to run at him.
He is a dynamic player, who must be a nightmare to play against.
Well done to the whole club and DB.
This season continues to get better and better and my outlook for the future is very positive.

1. Aekins – Keep – Hopefully qualifies as British
2. Hitchcox – Let go - Limited opportunities and is Australian
3. Brand – Keep – Most improved player this season (don’t let him play Fullback)
4. McDonald – Retained – Top try scorer- unorthodox Centre
5. Nisbet – Let go – Played Wing and pack - a trier put lacking the pizzaz of Inu, Ferguson and Charnley
6. Reynolds – Keep - Solid in defence – kicking game improved but does not offer enough threat in attack (especially at SL level)
7. Mellor – Retained – Dominated games at times
8. Sidlow – Keep – Solid all round has improved discipline having been made Captain
9. Smith – Sign – Smith has spent several seasons at Leigh and needs to make the move permanent.
10. Ioane –Keep - Qualifies under residency 6 years in UK – season plagued by injuries – always gives 100%
11. Wardle - Keep
12. Stone – Keep – Malta International
13. Amone – Keep – Star Prop
14. Green – Keep – Unfortunate injury – Plenty of SL experience
15. Hingano – Let go – unpredictable player with some good touches and occasionally reckless in the tackle – provided cover at 6,7 and 9 incredibly important squad player
16. Chamberlain – Keep – talented Centre still learning his craft
17. Jones – Let go – Young lad not quite SL standard yet
18. Asiata – Keep – Gets better every game – fills in deficiencies in the half backs – attacks the line and pushes Mellor and Reynolds wider
19. Roberts – Keep - Young local lad with potential. Fills a squad position
20. Dixon – Let Go – The age of the small speedster, might be coming to an end. Inu, Ferguson and now Charnley have more of a Lam feel about them.
21. Ipape – Retained – Oh Edwin Ipape (I love that man)
22. McDonnell – Sign – Highly rated by Lam but still a Wigan loanee.
23. Inu – Keep – I would like another season from this top performer (At 35 he might hang up his Blue and Red Boots)
24. O’Donnell - Keep – Hopefully qualifies as British
25. Nakubuwai – Undecided – Getting better with every game
26. Ferguson – Keep – A little bit of stardust at the LSV
27. Charnley – Signed

I agree with most but not all of this.

My picks are ....

1. Aekins - Keep/Release (undecided) depends on Quota & who we manage to retain. Very good season but not irreplaceable, doesn't like taking bombs but in most areas good.
2. Hitchcox - Release. Not in Lams plans it seems & hasn't done enough to be retained + he's an Aussie so takes a Quota spot.
3. Brand - Keep - Brand has done plenty very well & gets better. He's one to get signed & could have a bright future.
4. McDonald - Retained. Excellent, hard to handle Centre with plenty to worry defenses.
5. Nisbet. Release. Has been a hard working squad player & of course we need squad player's (not everyone can be superstars) Not done much wrong but we have plenty quality in his position.
6. Reynolds - Keep - as already said, very solid defensively & much improved in play kicking, strong squad player (though I would like an NRL/SL quality 6)
7. Mellor - Retained Nothing to add, good signing
8. Sidlow - Keep - Nothing to add.
9. Smith - Keep/Sign - still developing but doing it very well, a solid performer, needs to be a Leigh player & part of our first choice 2 Hooker game.
10. Ione - Keep - Nothing to add.
11.Wardle - Keep/Release (undecided) decent/solid squad player
12. Stone - Keep/Release - Depends again on Quota spots & who does or doesn't sign again. Very good but not irreplaceable.
13. Amone - Keep - Absolutely must attempt to get Amone for at least 2 - 3 seasons. Might come down to a fight between Leigh & bigger name Super League clubs.
14. Green - Keep - Been unlucky to lose him for most of the season so far but again, SL quality
15. Hingano - Release. Hasn't done enough & takes a Quota spot
16. Chamberlain - Keep - Very good & will improve further.
17. Jones - Release/? Don't know enough about him.
18. Asiata - Keep - Very good, an attacking threat, good defender, has been a good signing
19. Roberts - Keep - a good squad player will need game time to develop.
20 . Dixon - Release. Not in plans & we have & can attract much better (Plenty of quality wingers)
21. Ipape - Retained - What a player. This signing alone shows where we are & where we want to be. An inspired signing & he will attract others to Leigh.
22. McDonnell - Sign (If we can) has been very good for Leigh when played. Does he want to be a first choice Leigh player or squad Wigan player ?
23. Inu - Release - Yes I know he's been excellent this season but he is 35 & will he retire ? Being 35 in Championship is not the same as being 36 in Super League !
24. O'Donnell - Keep - Very, very good, much better than most realise. Kai is an excellent all rounder, massive defence & massive workhorse.
25. Nakubuwai - Release - Better out there & takes a Quota spot.
26. Ferguson - Keep *If we can* Will he sign again ? Will he get bigger offers from bigger name clubs in Super League or NRL ?
27. Charnley - Signed - still has quality & a proven try scorer.

*The name Lachlan Lam is still being mentioned in the media*

Wardle has signed a one year extention according to our website. Good!

I think one thing is noticeable above previous seasons in that there is actually communication from the club about these things which is also a massive positive.

Nothing is achieved by keeping fans in the dark.

https://www.totalrl.com/overseas-quota- ... ers-guide/ The above guide is based on the 2019 RFL/SL ruling. It makes very little sense and I think that my head has exploded trying to apply the ruling to the current Leigh Team. The main gist is you can have 5 Aussie or New Zealanders or 7 non-federated players. (non-feds are players who have not had 3 years training in a European Country prior to the age of 21. It appears that players with a British Passport are exempt, but for some reason Widdop (Warrington) is a non-fed. Aekins could feasibly be dual Nationality, but O'Donnell would count as Overseas as he is unlikely to have a British Passport. Ipape and McDonald are definitely Non-Fed (PNG) Nakubuwai (Fiji) Inu (NZ) Ferguson (Aus) John Asiata (Aus) Stone (Aus) Hingano (NZ) Amone (Aus) Ioane (NZ) are all Overseas The fact that they have played for multiple international teams (Tonga and Samoa) seems to be irrelevant because of being born in either Aus or NZ. Residency seems to only affect your choice for International call ups. Since 2019 we have unfortunately left the EU and the issue regarding Kolpak is further muddied. Kolpak Nations are (Fiji, Tonga, Samoa & Papua New Guinea). I am guessing that the rule now is a straight 7 Overseas. Any the wiser? I am not - good luck Chezzy sorting this out.

https://www.totalrl.com/overseas-quota- ... ers-guide/ The above guide is based on the 2019 RFL/SL ruling. It makes very little sense and I think that my head has exploded trying to apply the ruling to the current Leigh Team. The main gist is you can have 5 Aussie or New Zealanders or 7 non-federated players. (non-feds are players who have not had 3 years training in a European Country prior to the age of 21. It appears that players with a British Passport are exempt, but for some reason Widdop (Warrington) is a non-fed. Aekins could feasibly be dual Nationality, but O'Donnell would count as Overseas as he is unlikely to have a British Passport. Ipape and McDonald are definitely Non-Fed (PNG) Nakubuwai (Fiji) Inu (NZ) Ferguson (Aus) John Asiata (Aus) Stone (Aus) Hingano (NZ) Amone (Aus) Ioane (NZ) are all Overseas The fact that they have played for multiple international teams (Tonga and Samoa) seems to be irrelevant because of being born in either Aus or NZ. Residency seems to only affect your choice for International call ups. Since 2019 we have unfortunately left the EU and the issue regarding Kolpak is further muddied. Kolpak Nations are (Fiji, Tonga, Samoa & Papua New Guinea). I am guessing that the rule now is a straight 7 Overseas. Any the wiser? I am not - good luck Chezzy sorting this out.