b0ll0x.....Teams like Leigh should be getting spanked by our academy side FFS.
And why oh why do we insist on pre season friendlies against oposition from the lower leagues? Another season is about to begin and yet again, Quins RL look to be going into it under prepared....no disrespect to Leigh....but surely a game against a SL team should have been arranged. I think we are the only SL team not to have a proper warm up (Again) and the first 2 games of the season are "must wins"...

Don't know about Melling but Bailey's wife is expecting this weekend and fine and Ward broke his nose in the Capital Challenge

Agree.

Point taken that the nice undersoil heating at Leigh was a key consideration when arranging a fixture, but given that we tonked the Skolars (who got tonked by Wigans U20's BTW) and then struggled to beat a leigh team, that by all accounts will be very competative in the Championship this year but were hammered by Wire, we are going into the season with very little preperation IMO.
Catalans and Crusaders will be targetting our games as "must wins"....both have had run outs against SL opposition....and if we lose both of these games, I fear for us in 2011....

I think that's about right given the fiasco last year with Wrexham Crusaders who couldn't be bothered to fulfil commitments blaming it on their snow phobia or Nobby's TV commitments. Leigh was guaranteed due to a) Their commitment and b) undersoil heating

The Wire game was a Lot tighter than the scoreline suggested , Tony Smith stated as such , and it was no false praise , they had to work very hard and it was only down to some real quality and a full strength squad that the margin was so big , they will beat several SL teams by bigger scores this year , most probably Quins being one of them

...I fear you may be correct.

not too sure what to take away from this result
Looking at the leigh site, they are pretty confident of having a decent season and being up there challenging, and they have to be in with a shout of a franchise place.
Not convinced we have to play SL team before we go in to the season!! as long as the boys get a run out to blow away the cobwebs and get some proper contact rugby in

I predict a win against the Cats
And another win against the cheshire crusaders if we stop sammut

Defence was my concern post the Skolars game- nothing has changed my mind reading the comments from yesterday

AFAIK, we were missing Ward, Bailey, Purdo, Melling, Temata and Caro yesterday so we should not panic. Leigh had already played 2 SL teams and were fit and ready. It may take time to get the loanees up to speed. Clubby seems to have retained his England and acquired goal kicking boots and there was praise for Gale, if those two have a good season we will not do too badly. We do need a prop and a defensive coach it would seem!

This was a friendly ffs. Neither team will be playing at full tilt so let's just all calm down shall we.

Leigh fans are telling us nothing we don't already know by proclaiming we'll struggle this year. As littlerich above states, our biggest asset will be our underdog status and we have the opportunity to start well with two of the weaker sides in the first two rounds.

No chance this time around - we didn't qualify, to apply. As yet nobody knows if Championship clubs can apply in 2015 - I expect the Rfl will announce something in 2014!!

Look on the bright side Dave. YOU can't get relegated!!