On paper the team looks pretty good. However, I'm not sure the current lot are better man for man in this specific environment -- at present. The recently disbanded and previous culture seemed to attract, unite and inspire new players into performing for the fans. That is disappearing fast, and apart from bringing Higham back to hold onto to some of that, the newbies are almost working from a blank canvas.

Reynolds vs Ridyard. Richards vs Hopkins. Owens vs McNally. I don't see improvements and how is Cunningham Junior even considered at this level? Surely needs to cut his teeth in League 1 before performing in a team aiming for SL promotion. Would he have got 1 minute game time in the 2016 team?

And Mortimer reportedly out for another 10 weeks. Reynolds injured and not meeting expectations. Do we need to make some tough decisons / improvements ASAP before the season is written off? Summer Bash is approaching fast and the thought of Reni Maitua rubbing it in as well should be enough motivation!

This team needed some changes and needed to get younger overall.
But Riddy (and a few others) shouldn’t even have been anywhere close to that equation.
Mickey Higham should have been given another year and started this season. Greg McNally should still be here. Those 3 alone would have made a difference in the results so far.
We need a recognized, proven quality standoff, right now !!!!
Gloves off Derek. Get him by hook or by crook, or wave goodbye to the middle 8s, never mind promotion.

Craig Hall is a better FB than McNally for mine, Peter M'atautia has been excellent and is SL class. I would rather have Bodene Thompson than Glenn Stewart. I would actually have Hutchison than Drinkwater, who will become a real asset for us IMO. We are not losing anything by replacing Higson with Evans personally. I take the point about Ridyard, especially in this division.

It is an issue that so many changes have all been made in one go without any continuity and questions do need to be asked about the merits of that decision.

This is a side now extremely low on confidence and it is difficult. A new team that in all 7 games played have only experienced winning once. Sadly losing is habit forming but break it we must and break it we will. We have to.

We desperately need a quality 6 in there to help Hutchison, short term I am inclined to place Hall there and I do think we need another grunt.

Derek is under pressure like any of the boys as it is a real challenge to now secure top 4, and let's be honest if we don't hit it there is no real point in anyone committing £60k of your own money each and every month. Pointless. However no one is throwing the towel in yet as far as I can see.

Very good post and no argument against the player comparisons, and I agree that Hall is probably a better overall fullback than McNally, but at this level McNally is a proven performer that we did not need to change. And he has shown his willingness to play gis heart oit for oir club. The money for Hall could have been used elsewhere in my opinion.
Hall to 6 for me too for now but only as a stop gap.

Its a very expensive hobby, isn't it H.

I'd agree that Hall is a better full back than McNally, but I saw him more as a like for like replacement for Brown in the squad, and he's probably a better winger than Dawson. McNally is also a considerably better full back than Owens.

I'd be tempted to give Matautia a game at 6, running off Hutchinson, to at least give us some pace and elusive running in the middle. Hall could play there, but that would give us a problem at full back. Maybe the extra responsibility and a bit of pace next to him would do Hutchinson some good.

because riddy didn't have an aussie accent he was overlooked. what as hutchinson done that riddy couldn't or cant do ? what as hall done so far that McNally couldn't or cant do ? the team have no conditioning you can clearly see that & that's because they're not being pushed or pushing themselves within training, they're all in a comfort zone & deggsy is being mates with them ! they're all taking the out him & the fans ! no desire , no hunger ... & opposing teams will be relishing facing leigh !

Can't speak for all teams but I know of one who's players were well up for the Leigh game

Well I don't know if your a fan, ex player, coach or whatever but you sound extremely bitter
And as much as we are all a little miffed at the moment I'll give it a couple of days and you'll be ripped off here - because the majority will defend the current squad and set up before the past, and certainly not put up with negative chuffs like you

Negative or being realistic ?

The only reality,is going forward with what you have. Not what you had.

Exactamundo

It is what it is, sure we can all have hissy fits under the current circumstances- but at the end of the day get behind the club or bog off