Very impressed with a lot of the kids today, that turn of pace from Corey Lee for his hat trick and the passing play leading up to it was absolutely top drawer.

Crusaders did well in attack and will have a good season I'm sure, good luck to them. Another decent and vocal support from them.

eh ?

Was it a good run out for the lads and did we pick up any niggles from todays game?

cheers Reffy !

I didn't see anyone come off injured apart from Ben Reynolds who looked to have tweeked his hamstring. The young guns were top notch and as Matt said the passage of play that lead up to Corey's hat trick was sublime. All those lads went out there today with so much confidence they looked like they had been playing together for a season. Lewis Foster put a back handed ball out to Ben Reynolds, as he was going down, that was straight out of the NRL. Young Elliot doesn't look that big but boy does he move some bodies when he takes the ball in. I think we only had Jamie Acton, Sam Hopkins and Jonny Walker as regular first team forwards on the field in the second half. That says bundles about the young pack members coming through.

Saying the amount of young lads we had playing today it was a very good result , I was impressed with Corey Lee ,He took his tries very well, but I thought NWC are a very ordinary side, Ryan Duffy looks to have put on weight, and if Jon Smith was a foot taller he would be a decent t player, I don't think NWC will trouble Swinton this year.Charlie knows.

I don't think Crusaders are a bad side. Seemed to me however that they threw out a lot of bad passes trying to score off practically every play.

Ryan Duffy had a decent game imo.

Francis you have never been a good judge of players, I know how high you rated Chris Giles , I was pleased with young Hanson debut, the lad looks a good prospect and can kick goals.

Thought our young lads were excellent today, had so much pace and were willing to throw the ball about at any opportunity. Once they get a bit older, and more importantly a fair bit bigger, we'll have an excellent team at Leigh for years. Thought Corey Lee was very good, scored a hat trick with 2 length of the field trys!

Not sure if you can read too much into Crusaders, have they played any other friendlies yet? Think they've got a month or so before their season starts properly so it's understandable for them to be a bit off the pace if they've not dome much pre-season yet. I still think they'll be up there going for the 2nd promotion spot (Keighley will get the top spot).

Barrow will walk that league IMO. They have a solid core, some brilliant Leythers on loan and Chris Fleming is a cracking player too. I used to play with him at Orrell St James and he will do a good job for Barrow after spending 18 months in Australia.

Really think Dixon will be a great addition , really impressed with some of the youngsters, how quick is that Corey lee was impressed with him in the reserve grand final last year at full back, top 3 for Sunday I thought was

1 Dixon
2 lee
3 Reynolds

Strength in depth at the club

Dixon looks like he could be another astute signing by Paul. He was eager and hungry for work and made some telling line breaks out wide on the flank.

I have already made my comments known on what I think of Ben Reynolds. He is a young player of outstanding promise.

The problem for Paul is that once he announces to the squad his 17 for the Bradford game he will have a couple of disappointed players at missing the cut who will be wondering what more they could have done to force themselves into the reckoning.

Well as any coach will tell you, that is a very good problem to have and Paul will be aware he is going to need the services of the full squad throughout the season.

The future is bright.

Totally agree Harold. The guys not getting into the team early doors will need to be patient and grab their opportunities whenever they arise. In the meantime they have to appreciate that their development will be greatly enhanced by the influence of the Leigh coaching team in a full time environment.
Any player with the ambition to reach his full potential should want to be working with Paul and his team.

They're all professional so sure they'll understand & keep at it. Anyone that doesn't make the team against Bradford just needs to look at what happened last season and how the side changed over the year. Most players got their chance and those that took it, like Pitman and Higson for example, got to keep it.