I think you're underrating our players if you think our second rows can't compete with Saints. 

If we're looking purely at strike and try scoring;


Halton - 3 tries in 6 appearances
O'Neill - 5 in 11




Sironen - 1 try in 9
Whitley - 3 in 12
Batchelor - 2 in 7


Stats for metres gained, tackle busts, tackles will also be favourable for Leigh's.


We do need stronger depth there though, Hughes is prone to a brain explosion and Trout should be prop.

Armstrong Brand Hanley Niu Charnley O'Brien Lam Trout Ipape Mulhern Halton O'Neill Liu Bench: Hodgson, , Brogan, Pene ( when fit ) If not Hughes  I think we could still use Obrien if we had an Asiata , injury prone yes , but we have suffered massively with him leaving this season , he takes in so many players during attack , that the attack can run from deep ad start creating space . What we have no is Lam taking th <> <> FORUMS   Leigh Leopards   Your strongest 17 e ball flat flooted and then running sideways like a crab ,running Nui and Hanley out of the game . How rarely this season have we seen Niu , Armstrong and Hanley being put through a gap ( not many ) we have turned Niu into a ball returner . Lui isn't Asiata by a long way , but he still has a good work rate and go forward , I would probably play him prop . We either need a quality 13 ( ball playing ) who can cover that first/second receiver was causes problems and keep O'B moving out wider , thats where he start getting dangerous . Or  a real quality 6  Wouldn't mind seeing Towse get a few more start as well  But I dont sticking our dangerous player Ipape from acting half to loose , keep him at hooker where he can do his thing and find better suited player elsewhere . Wouldnt have a hooker to fill in that role , Davis is a squad player and Dwyer is a lose cannon.

Armstrong Brand Hanley Niu Charnley O'Brien Lam Trout Ipape Mulhern Halton O'Neill Liu Bench: Hodgson, , Brogan, Pene ( when fit ) If not Hughes  I think we could still use Obrien if we had an Asiata , injury prone yes , but we have suffered massively with him leaving this season , he takes in so many players during attack , that the attack can run from deep ad start creating space . What we have no is Lam taking th <> <> FORUMS   Leigh Leopards   Your strongest 17 e ball flat flooted and then running sideways like a crab ,running Nui and Hanley out of the game . How rarely this season have we seen Niu , Armstrong and Hanley being put through a gap ( not many ) we have turned Niu into a ball returner . Lui isn't Asiata by a long way , but he still has a good work rate and go forward , I would probably play him prop . We either need a quality 13 ( ball playing ) who can cover that first/second receiver was causes problems and keep O'B moving out wider , thats where he start getting dangerous . Or  a real quality 6  Wouldn't mind seeing Towse get a few more start as well  But I dont sticking our dangerous player Ipape from acting half to loose , keep him at hooker where he can do his thing and find better suited player elsewhere . Wouldnt have a hooker to fill in that role , Davis is a squad player and Dwyer is a lose cannon.

No Ofahengaue doc?

Yeah missed him didnt I , if he can kick the ball, swap him with Lam. If he cant then swap him with Pene . I think Brogan is doing enough to hold his place . Abetter attacking kicking game would certainly help out the forwards , field position , take off the pressure and hopefully give away less penalties, hopefully force more ball returns md errors from the defence . 

The seventeen below is an alternative
attempt at getting the backs moving fluently with McNamara taking on the Asiata
role of previous seasons. That front row and second row is aggressive in
defence and alongside that Ben is a reliable tackler. Ben would provide accurate
goalkicking and offer flexibility in the interchange. The bench provides strong
impact. O’Brien is a skilful kicker and should be used as the principal kicker
on the sixth tackle with instructions to get distance and work the touchlines.
I would like to see more 40 20s. Armstrong on the wing makes better use of his
pace plus the reliability and creative skills of Hodgson at the back.

Hodgson

Brand

Hanley

Nui

Armstrong

O’Brien

Lam

Trout

Ipape

Mulhern

Halton

O'Neil

McNamara

Bench: Ofahengue Lui Tuitavake Hughes




I still cannot understand how
we managed to miss out on Sneyd and remain disappointed that we did not sign Tom
Amone. (If Jofffa was already in the pipeline we should have loaned out or paid
off Pene who has been a waste of a quota space) 

I'm only replying to this thread so I can see the replies that it says have been posted today but aren't visible even when logged in!