Thought we played well and the high shot on McNally as the game started unfortunately showed Sheffield's intent.
The Red card I thought was for kicking as there was legs flying everywhere and it wasn't until someone said it was for a spear, did change the game but in fairness to the Eagles they kept going although inevitably played the ref by slowing things down and making it a niggly game.
In terms of the officials I have to say its an incredibly tough job but as a collective the Ref / Touch Judges etc really do seem to need some guidance as for me they are incredibly inconsistent from game to game this season and lots of off the ball / back play stuff is being missed.
Now its not intentional but if a refs performance isn't improving then surely the guy in charge needs to assist his staff and give them pointers on how to improve or make better decisions, to the outsider looking in it seems the shortage of refs is showing in the quality of some of the decisions being made - it has to improve.
Back to he reason we go to matches - the players.
I felt in the first half we took our foot off a bit and allowed Sheffield to control the pace, of course inbetween that in true Leigh style we scored some top notch tries with all our big name players coming to the table.
Second half was much better and aside from the farce of Hock being sin binned for no apparent reason other than the name he had on his back and McNally being hit late (the only people in the LSV who missed that was the guy with a whistle and 2 guys with a flag)I thought it was a good game with Higham rolling back the years and McNally, Ridyanrd and Brierley putting on a show from the platform the forwards had laid.
MOM deservedly to McNally for a well taken hat trick and a good overall game.
Sheffield will be in the mix come the end of the season and will be no push overs so glad to get them out the way.

Its now 'will the last person in Leigh turn the lights out' on Saturday as everybody heads over to Warrington for what will undoubtedly be one of our biggest away following in years - can't wait

The other disgraceful tackle was when Riddy was sidestepping up to our forty and their 10 threw him over his hip while holding head, ogoshy style. A completely illeagal throw that the ref missed as he wasnt looking at play. The result was a lost ball, a slighty concusted halfback and a scrum to them. I have to say the Rowls was livid with the officials and the match comisioner was getting it in the ear. It will be very interesting when the RFL view Freds video.

I saw that too, Riddy stepped the line and left them for dead but then got blatantly tripped by a Sheffield player. Ref somehow gave a knock on

Got nothing against Sheffield (except Mark Aston!) but they seemed to come with a very negative game plan today and it didn't work for them. We kept our composure much better and didn't get involved in anything silly. Hock did nothing for his yellow card, no chance of him getting a ban. Glad too as he was awesome today, absolutely terrorised the Sheffield forwards.

Just watched the scoring highlights on LCTV (yep, rugby again and kids off to school, all before 9am!!) and most of those trys yesterday were fantastic. It brings back that buzz from a few months ago when Leigh were flying.

Ohhh, Leigh!!

Watched the highlights myself and those trys are all absolutely fantastic, really good rugby. This is the form we seem to have lost in recent weeks and what a perfect time to get it back! Can also see the McNally injury, he can't even claim to be committed to the tackle! Just a swinging arm after the ball had already gone, hopefully a big long ban, deserves one.

Yep. Outrageous tackle and surely a long ban for Smeaton.

All credit to the Leigh lads too yesterday for not reacting negatively to the Sheffield "tactics"

Just seen the red card incident on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trE3EeA8U0M DEFINITE red. Aston. ******.

Just seen the red card incident on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trE3EeA8U0M DEFINITE red. Aston. ******.

Grade E-F Spear tackle. For Mr Aston
Grade D-F Intentional stiff arm tackle no attempt to tackle legitimately. For Mr Smeaton.

Coming up..

Edit: Thanks for reminding me Nozzy.

Grade E-F Running in & punching opponent off guard. For Mr Taluapapa..

Also coming up.

Fast forward the link to 5mins 18 secs re that stiff arm on McNally.

Yeah can you see the TJ looking straight at the incident.

As a neutral I honestly didnt think the spear tackle was as bad as people are making out. Anyone who has played the game will know its simply one of them times where another players momentum ends up making the tackle look really bad, you can tell from the players reactions that it looked worse than it was in fact its almost a text book tackle the way the Sheffield player starts the tackle. Its bad and deserved something, maybe 10 minutes would have been right but there certainly does not seem to be an intent to injure in the tackle.

Did McNally really end up in hospital after that tackle? Its late and high but Ive watched it about 10 times and theres no swing and looks like a flat hand. Maybe he falls awkwardly or something.

May not have been intent to injure the player, but still deserved a red card for the spear tackle and at least a yellow for the high shot.

Haha! Good effort, GFB. I'll give you 6/10 for that provocation attempt. Quite subtle.

Either way GFB the spear tackle is illegal,and thats a stiff arm any day of the week.The only time you see a flat hand is after the incident.

Undecided about the red for the spear, certainly a yellow and totally agree with regards the late tackle. Although again not as bad as some are making out I think thats possibly more a sending off than the spear tackle.