From John Davidson:

Leigh Leopards' reserves have yet to play a game this season after forfeiting all seven of their games in 2023.

Leigh have withdrawn from all their matches and had a 48-0 result awarded against them in every fixture.

The RFL has now confirmed that the Super League side will not compete in the reserves competition this year.

"We have agreed with Leigh that it would be counterproductive for them to field a Reserves team before they have the infrastructure in place - also bearing in mind the impact it would have on the community game," an RFL spokesperson told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads.

"They are working on a player pathway solution, and discussions are continuing on whether they will be in a position to play Reserves matches this year - although they would almost certainly be outside the existing competition structure."

I don't get why they entered the comp in the first place then? If Leigh aren't set up to run a team. All it does is hinder the teams that do.

Leigh Reserves doing about as well as Wakefield's first team, then.

So they've basically shoved all available money and resources into the first team without investing in other essential areas off field, reserves, academy etc... so what happens if they have an injury crisis? Do the rounds with the big Lancashire clubs begging for player loans?

No one is getting uptight about it just asking a perfectly simple and valid question. As mwindass said it’s just odd you’d enter a team in the reserves when they weren’t capable or able to do so.
It’s not a great when other clubs have reserve teams and fixtures are being cancelled which leaves clubs and players without games which isn’t great for development of players and Leigh aren’t the only ones to cancel fixtures.

I appreciate that it may have been difficult with Leigh only gaining promotion end of last season to get things up and running in time however you’d think the best course by Leigh & the RFL was to not enter a reserve team until 2024. However they will have known before 2022 season got underway that a reserve team was a requirement for SL clubs and planned accordingly surely?

Quote: Yippee try yay "So they've basically shoved all available money and resources into the first team without investing in other essential areas off field, reserves, academy etc... so what happens if they have an injury crisis? Do the rounds with the big Lancashire clubs begging for player loans?'" Leigh and Salford had their applications to launch Elite Academies from 2022 rejected during the wonderfully well managed 2021 Academy Licensing Process. https://www.rugby-league.com/article/35 ... ng-process

Quote: Yippee try yay "So they've basically shoved all available money and resources into the first team without investing in other essential areas off field, reserves, academy etc... so what happens if they have an injury crisis? Do the rounds with the big Lancashire clubs begging for player loans?'" Leigh and Salford had their applications to launch Elite Academies from 2022 rejected during the wonderfully well managed 2021 Academy Licensing Process. https://www.rugby-league.com/article/35 ... ng-process

Going off the 19 man squad Cokey posted, I'd guess Leigh will line up like:

O’Brien
Briscoe
Hardaker
Leutele
Charnley

Mellor
Lam

Amone
Ipape
Mulhern
O'Donnell
Holmes
Asiata

Seumanufagai
Jones
Davis
????

Not sure if O'Donnell is 100%. I'd prefer them to give him one more week off....

They look a bit light, unless they have some more players to come in

They've looked pretty light all year past their first 17, but they have exceeded expectations. However, suspensions and injuries may start to bite soon

Got to give it to Leigh, they’re punching above their weight this season. I also think they’ve had the best travelling fans at the Kcom this season so FairPlay to them for that.

They’re a bit like salford though, squad depth is a bit thin and for that i think they’ll go through tough period when Injuries begin to bite.

For me, an academy would’ve helped them with reserves but it’s not an excuse at all. They should 100% be running one (as should all SL clubs). Instead they’ve targeted short term success with a very top heavy squad and some very expensive imports.

Hopefully we can get the W this week and keep building.

Battle of the two best 7's in the league this week, Lam is a real threat, very good halfback with an exceptional running game.

No doubting their quality on the field at the moment, they have certainly proven their doubters wrong (me included) and good on them for doing so.

Leigh aren't the finished package off the field thats for sure, and is something I am sure is being addressed.

Dan Norman joins Leigh on loan.

If they had an academy/reserves they could have promoted a young kid