Rugby League is so much more than 13 men running onto a park, it is even more than a 17 man match day team. It is all about the squad, and in Leigh's case that means 27 brave souls willing to put their bodies on the line.
Continuing from my last post we now have the rest of the squad.
14. Eloi Pelissier - Hooker - SL Experience. A tough France International, who after making Catalan his home for the last 5 years, will be plying his trade in Leigh. This was the surprise signing for the 2017 season, and he was long on my personal wishlist. He is fast and strong and annoying to play against, because of his unpredictability. Fiery and prone to lose his temper he should be at home at the LSV. In fact he spent some time in the area when he was in the Wigan U18's squad. I can vouch personally for his impeccable English and look forward to see him terrorise Super League teams in the near future. This will be his last year as understudy and will be owning the number 9 jersey for years to come.
15. Danny Tickle - Prop Forward - SL Experience. An experienced player returning home, having been born Golborne. Certainly a nice to have as a back-up rotating prop. Likes to run in hard and turn his back looking for an off-load.
16. Antoni Maria - Prop Forward, Second Row - SL Experience. Not much is known about Antoni with the exception that he will be leaning on Eloi as an interpreter, as he gets used to the mangled vowel sounds of the average Leyther. Can guarantee he will be looking at illuminous green mushy peas on a plate of Lobby and wondering what he has let himself in for.
17. Atelea Vea - Second Row - NRL and SL Experience. A player that St Helens will be pleased to see the back of, similar to Matty Dawson. I hope he has a similar impact as Dawson because he will be very welcome as an impact player at the LSV. Look forward to him having a point to prove when Leigh and Saints meet.
18. Gregg McNally - Full Back - Championship Experience. Gregg suffered injury in pre-season last year, but immediately slipped back into position just in time for the middle 8's. I hope losing the number 1 jersey will spur Gregg onto becoming a club legend. Weakness is in the tackle but is a superb open play runner, in the style of Morgan Escare. It was telling that Catalan preferred to use Tony Gigot when playing away from home, last season. Gregg and Morgan both have a point to prove.
19. Ryan Hampshire - Fullback, Stand Off - SL Experience. Now is the time for 22 Year old Ryan to pick up the pieces of his Rugby League career. No longer a promising youngster in Wigan's ranks, Ryan needs to find his position and fulfil some of latent potential.
20. Ben Reynolds - Fullback, Halfback, Hooker - limited SL Experience. The ultimate utility player, possibly vying for position with Ryan Hampshire. Possibly best suited as a Fullback but he willing to play anywhere he is needed.
21. Liam Hood - Hooker - SL Experience. Tough position to be in with two very good hookers ahead in the pecking order. The upside is that the modern game needs two hookers in every matchday squad. Liam as got better all season and finished the season with a marvellous display for Scotland. I expect Liam to get some game time if Micky Higham needs to rested.
22. James Green - Prop Forward, Second Row - SL Experience. A big lad at 6ft 6in, James was an early departure from the Champioship bound Hull KR, I hope he can kick on and cement his place in the team, after a shoulder injury at the end of last season.
23. Sam Hopkins - Prop Forward - Championship Experience. Having been signed by Wigan in 2014, Leigh fans thought they had seen the last of Sam Hopkins. Fortunately the move did not work out and Sam came back on loan and then later it was made permanent. Sam is a fans favourite particularly for his ability to score close to the line, when seemingly wrapped up by opposition. Always available as impact player, Sam gets better with every season.
24. Jamie Acton - Prop Forward - Championship Experience. Jamie is the club enforcer and I am pleased to say he learned from the master of the bash Fuifui Moimoi. Jamie likes the physical side of the game, and is never one to shy away when the fists fly. Possibly from another era, when the game was dirtier and 26 men grown would punch each other stupid. As the Warrington fans tell me, the only think they will win, is a fight outside a pub.
25. Lee Smith - Wing, Fullback, Centre - SL Experience. A cleaver player who makes up for his dwindling pace with Rugby nous. I am sad to say this that his top flight playing days are coming to an end. Last season he was a rock in the Leigh team and covered numerous positions, but against Leeds he looked decidedly ponderous. Possibly one last season before the Championship beckons.
26. Lewis Foster - Scrum Half, Stand Off, Hooker - Championship Experience. Unfortunately Lewis never stands out. He is way down the pecking order for the Hooking role and could not be trusted to play against Super League opposition in the Halves. Sadly I think his future at a lower level.
27. David Thompson - Winger - very limited SL Experience. David is apparently the fastest member of the Leigh squad, Opportunities so far have been very limited in his career, but this could be his breakthrough year considering what lies ahead of him in the pecking order. I get a feeling he may well replace Adam Higson before the season is over.
Summary - plenty of experience, with some youth thrown into the mix. Quite a few only have limited Super League or none at all. Centre and Wings appear to be the major weakness with only utility players to cover the all important half back roles.
The Pack is full of players available to rumble and with three international Hookers there is going to be plenty of go forward.
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