He signed a new deal early this year didn't he?

It is always a pleasure to watch Hilly, his total dedication to the cause has seen him become the best forward outside of SL and now he has the opportunity to prove himself in the big league. A good choice of club too. All the best for the future!

Looking to the future it may take a couple of years but we've got a young prop Luke Barratt coming through the systems and this could be Sam Hopkins chance to move up to front row permanently and take the spot next year. Barratt is only 17, has played most of the season on the bench for the Under-23s and when pitted against his own age group the other week for the 18s he monstered it against Hunslet.

in reply to dave parky above, lets use the loss of hilly as a huge chance for other players to grab his spot, he should be used as a shinning example of what hard work and dedication can bring.

Good luck to Chris Hill , as all of said he`s worthy at a shot at SL and if we get a franchise next time around maybe he`ll return and put a Leyth shirt on again. Top Leyther......

really sorry to see him leave but as everyone to a man has said, he deserves his chance...I am surprised he did not get snapped up sooner to be honest.

Happened to bump into him last week actually when we were in Anglesey. I thought I recognized him and went up to him and said "you wouldnt happen to be Chris Hill would you?". He lloked astonished and admitted he was - he couldn't believe he had bumped into a Leigh fan there.

We were at the same attraction so we had a good chat about rugby league in Canada and life in general, must have been talking for almost an hour in total...great down to earth dad and nice family to boot..

All the best Chris!

Appalling timing (7 days before a major final).

Having said that it was inevitable,
Will be sad to see him go as the lad is a 100% grafter.

Sad day for us, but best of luck Chris - you deserve the chance to prove to the rest of the RL world what we at Leigh have known for years - that you are a star!!

Not bad for a lad from 'the dark side'.......but, as we've found over the years - you don't have to be born here to be a Leyther!! (As I know myself!!)

Hopefully the fixture lists over the next couple of years mean that Leigh and Wire aren't playing at the same time, so Chris and his delightful family can still attend our home games. They're a great bunch - knowledgable, enthusiastic, and passionate about the game.....as anyone who has sat near Chris's Mum can testify!!

Best of luck, and with any luck, you'll be back in a Leigh shirt - in SL - in the not too distant!!

Good luck Chris, you derserve it.

Hill to Wire to replace Morley
Ellis to Hull to replace Long.
We could do worse than sign the cast !

oops need to add "offs" at the end

Cant see anything like this happening,i reckon there'll be big cuts in the wage bill and we'll look to youth,hopefully our own and not failed A team players at Wigan,Wire and Saints.

I don't see why, the budget we have to work with doesn't really change but I wouldn't want Long or Morley and I doubt they'd want to come either.

It's the day to day running costs of the club that are the real issue I think and most of that can be brought back to the fact that we dont own the ground and miss out on a hell of a lot of revenue that was produced through the Mick Martyn Bar etc on match days. The council charges of rent must be absolutely crippling us.

Sorry to see him go and surprised he didnt get picked up before now. Good luck!

I'm gutted to hear of Chris going, but it was always going to happen. I wish him well, as he deserves a chance to shine at the top level - as I'm sure he will. And like all others, would love to see him in the international squad soon - and back with us when we're in SL ourselves.

On another note, if he HAD signed for another year, was the board astute enough to negotiate some compo on top of contract buyout?

I think he would have still been in contract for next year as he signed one at the begining of this season.
Contracts mean jack these days anyway.

All the best chris you deserve your chance and i have no doubt you will succeed.The two year contract you have signed will just fit in nicely for a return to Leigh in super league