We now know the full list of teams for next season therefore based on our recent form it gives us a chance to compare squads. I know that the start is some weeks away but the teams around us appear to be putting together their squads quite quickly. I think even the most die hard Wakefield supporter must say that Hull KR for example have strengthened whilst we have so far failed to do so. I hope we are not holding back to see what is left in order to pick them up cheap because we need to hit the ground running with all the squad knowing the game plan (when we have one).
I expect the usual will say I am being negative but it is a concern because we must stay in Super League and our performances over the last two years have not exactly helped allay these concerns.

In what way have we not strengthened?

Does Mason Lino not count? It now seems clear we are in for Battye, now a known SL quantity and whoever else we sign, clearly we have irons in the fire.

More to the point we should start next season with a host of fit-again players. TJ, Arundel, Fifita, Arona, Tupou all back to full fitness and a fair few others. Do you not in any way think this will make a difference?

Well, I'll tell you now it will and in a very big way.

I can't promise you we will be up there with Saints or Warrington but if Leigh can assemble a team even close to what we will hopefully have available I'll be amazed. I'm sure they will give it a go and may do well. We, however, are overdue a bit of an upturn after two very tough and unlucky seasons.

So as far as I'm concerned we've thought it through, you are just being negative for the sake of it, honestly, I'm never really sure what people like you get out of the game. Sure all seasons have the potential to go pear-shaped, ditto the other way around but why assume so with no real evidence to back it up baffles me.

We have has of yet not strengthened lino is an unknown quanity and qe have lost our 2nd best winger in bish for me this will make us weaker battye is not a done deal so at this moment in time we are no stronger

So where have Leigh strengthened exactly? Justify where Leigh is going to get these players from, other than the defunct Toronto team? Leigh finished 4th in 2019 in the Championship yet you are giving them m full SL accreditation, why?

Again do quality players coming back from long term injuries not count in your world?

Do players like Wood and Walker and young Harry Bowes who made their mark last season not count.

Does the fact that players like Jowitt, Batchelor and Crowther are now players starting to reach their peak, does that not count?

Building a team is not all about signings, it's about the balance and building, why do you assume they're all these magic bullet signing out there? Why not instead look for growth within, that's how the best clubs do it, only mugs think you can buy success.

Finally, Mason Lino is not an 'unknown quantity' any more than any other signing with a fair few NRL games under his belt. In fact if you go on youtube or the Knights forum you'll see he's a very 'known' quantity. Who are these known quantities of which you speak?

NB: If we have lost BJB it's certainly not been made official unless I missed it, he's out of contract, that is not the same thing!

This is their 2020 squad, but this will clearly change now they are in SL as Derek will obviously be getting his cheque book out again... https://leighrl.co.uk/wp/v2/2020-leigh- ... ons-squad/

This is their 2020 squad, but this will clearly change now they are in SL as Derek will obviously be getting his cheque book out again... https://leighrl.co.uk/wp/v2/2020-leigh- ... ons-squad/

None of whom would get into our first 17. They will be competitive but they will go straight back down by a distance in the end.

Really, so how many of those would you sign, clutching at straws or what.

I ask again, who are these other players, the pickings are incredibly thin at present. We are struggling here to come up with names, There are probably no more than half a dozen players who've been signed this year so far that I think would add greatly to our team. None of those players are in that list you gave.

Petru had signed for Leigh to play Championship RL, only Flowers could be said to have signed at a point when Leigh might have had a good idea they were in.

Has Leigh got any players who when on form are as good as Miller, Fifita, TJ, BJB, Tupou, Arona, Jowitt etc etc and not least Tanginoa? Leigh would give their eye teeth for those players

You're entitled to your opinion, I just can't see the justification.

I don't see that squad as a threat. The last time Leigh played in SL they employed approaching thuggery tactics and on the whole got away with it.
I think they will have to open the cheque book but who of any real qualitys available.
On the whole its a disappointing choice.

It is about opinions yes but adam walker blake wallace ben flower matty russel are all good enough to get in the wakey team is it me or have you forgot we won a total of 8 games in somthing like the last 42 so how current crop can be over assesd i dont know and this isnt me been against our players as it is what it is but i will stand by my opinion we will be in a battle with leigh kr and maybe salford i mean lets not forget no one expected us to go down to a do or die game with london

I revenue terms its great for us as noted.

In squad terms the only club that had a genuine shout it was London, who effectively still have the best part of an SL squad or at least one with recent experience.

Truth is Leigh probably did tick every other box and to be fair squad strength is very subjective.

They may be good enough but they sure as hell aren't better, there is not a single Trinity player I'd replace with any of those.

Are you seriously suggesting any of those are in the same class as Miller, Fifita, TJ, BJB, Tupou, Arona and Tanginoa? I think most would dispute that.

Yeah, we have had a couple of bad years but you know full well what went wrong in 2019, a very excusable season. 2020 less so, though we rallied pretty easily at the end when....you guessed it, our best players started to return in number. It's not rocket science.

By comparison what experience do Leigh have of SL. Some players have experience but as a team? Zero.

As I say I'm not doubting they will give it a shot, they may even do well and stay up, heck they could even do quite well. However, on paper, which is all we have at the moment, they are miles off and still will be when 2021 kicks off.

Let's be realistic.

Adam Walker is no longer at at Leigh. Matty Russell was the second best winger at Toronto when him and Liam Kay were there. Blake Wallace would be fifth choice halfback here behind Lino, Miller, Hampshire & Gigot. Ben Flower at a push would make the 17 if he is actually fit and available to play, which is sporadic. So we may be down the bottom but there is nothing to fear from Leigh.

We may have a better squad but it’s what you produce with them and over the last two seasons this as been less than impressive. We had survived for many of the early years with a squad considered to be inferior to many but because of team spirit and coaches getting the best out of what they had at the time.