This was a cunning plan by us to lose to York in order to avoid travelling to Toulouse in the first round or Toronto in the 2nd round. The only problem is that if Fev. beat Toulouse they go above us. But I still think this is preferable to being 3rd, and we should send a shadow team to Toronto next week, although the way we are playing, do we know our strongest side?

Brierley is never a full back in the memory of mon. I am sorry but Brierley can not influence a game in that position in the way McNally successfully marshal's our defence or from an offensively perspective in the way McNally can time when to chime in to the attack sucesfully.

Toronto do not allow their best players to go out on loan to their promotion rivals for the play offs and even if they do they insert a clause that dictates that the player whilst contracted can not play against them.

There is something not right with this agreement if you ask me.

Hi Harold,

As you know, I'm a Brierley fan - but not at full back. McNally is probably the most potent attacking weapon we have and must be in the team. I know what you say about the players being dropped, but would love to know the reason. Higson, Sa'u, Reynolds all picked up injuries in the last game, and McNally before that. Ridyard has been playing despite having a bruised heel for weeks. This happened before, in SL, when his loyalty playing while injured, was rewarded by being dropped and then shunted out.

I realise we had to bring in extra bodies, because we hadn't got a big enough squad, without the Saints D/R players, who all had big games for us. But, in bringing in the new faces, it does seem rather like we have damaged the major factor in our success to date - namely team spirit.

Ah well, we are now not likely to have to travel any further than Featherstone where, once again, our season is very likely to end.

Despite all that, I am grateful for what has been achieved, when I look back to the dark days of last November.

Harold,I agree,but is there any position he can?

Think your asking the wrong person, his opinion on Brierley are well documented


Ask Charlie, he knows

Well that's the million dollar question Cokey. 'Reffy' and 'The Publican' (A regular Leigh supporting poster I thoroughly respect) have previously taken me to task on my appraisal of the boy as a player.

I suppose 'Col D' is correct and the question should not be directed to me but perhaps the question can be best answered by someone more qualified to do so than I in either Rick Stone or Brian McDermott?

Harold I agree with you 100% on Brierley. I’ve said it many times over years he is not a playmaking halfback and, we are currently seeing he is not a fullback either!
I’ve been on the edge of my seat and thrilled to see Ryan score fantastic length of the field try’s however, he is currently a pale shadow of his former self ! I can only suggest he is tried on the wing however, I’m wondering where that electrifying pace has gone ?
Your right to point to his time at Hudds and Toronto where he has limited success !

Let’s not make today’s result the fault of Brierley though, there are others who are not performing too!
If Wigan have been watching Clark,they will be alarmed at the amount of possession he squanders ! Thompson too is unreliable when it comes to ball security!
I just don’t get Emmitt at Prop I really don’t and, I never have and never will! Our right edge was badly lacking today and if Sau and Higson were dropped to accommodate Forsyth and Cox that didn’t work !
Squandering possession has been our downfall all season and it continued today and that’s the main reason we struggle in close games !
I should give a big clap to Woods and Brown today for both not only giving a fine display but also playing the full eighty minutes! A fit Ridyard however, would figure before anyone else as he is a proven match winner and, might possibly converted our last try too, just as he has in the Past !
For my good friends in the North Stand you wouldn’t have seen the outrageous forward pass that York were allowed to score , oh well, I don’t want to sound like Eamon McManus !

Well in the premier club before the game today, Sau said on interview to the room he was named in today’s team but then injured his hip at thurs training, Sam Brooks was fit but not selected and Duffy said 3/4 missing injured but didn’t name anyone. Micky Higham announced his retirement after the game yesterday ( at end of season ) to the room which I think as come at the right time for Micky and the club and Brierley should not be playing Full Back b4 Gregg and at this moment in time I would have him playing on wing instead of Marsh and Higson on other wing.

Thanks for the 'inside' info Publican
Regarding Micky, he will know its time to go, no one will ever forget his elation when we qualified for Super League, his dance routine was also memorable however, the Kiss he gave to Angela Powers will also be remembered by her too Happy retirement Micky congratulations on a fantastic career, wish you had spent more of it at Leigh though
Duffy's comments conflict with other alleged info elsewhere were, players are supposedly to have been dropped!
I'll go with Duffy's info as not to have played these players by choice, would have been foolish!!
I'd try Ryan Brierley too on the wing to see if he has any of that pace left!

Yes, Ryan surely must go on the wing instead of Marsh - let’s have a bit of pace on the outsides for a change!!