Leigh : Sat Aug 13, 2016 7:02 pm  

Beaten Salford today so it's likely they'll be in the MPG as they've already beaten London and I don't think Batley or Featherstone will offer too much in terms of resistance.

However, the way Leigh are playing, along with other sides in the competition, I'm wondering if they'll even need the MPG?

Which will be a shame for Bradford because if Leigh get promoted then we'll never get another decent performance out of this team

Re: Leigh : Sat Aug 13, 2016 8:29 pm  

Well, assuming they see off Batley and Featherstone, they essentially need another win to get third place and avoid the MPG entirely.

I think they'll fancy beating either (or even both) of Hull KR or Huddersfield

The big 'problem' for the likes of us is that, should Leigh get promoted, it will be touted as 'proof' that the Middle 8 concept works, thus no need to ever go back to promotion and relegation.

Re: Leigh : Sat Aug 13, 2016 8:53 pm  

How would Bradford benefit if the system reverted to straight up promotion and relegation?

Re: Leigh : Sat Aug 13, 2016 8:59 pm  

If Leigh go up, there's every chance that it could be Huddersfield coming the other way. And if Huddersfield get relegated I might just die laughing.

Re: Leigh : Sat Aug 13, 2016 9:19 pm  

Greg Florimos Boots wrote:

How would Bradford benefit if the system reverted to straight up promotion and relegation?

I'll bite. Despite this awful season, Bradford are still one of the biggest teams in this comp and would be promotion contenders. We'll see a different mind set from us next year (as will Halifax, experiencing the tinpot shield will give any player plenty of motivation to avoid it again)

Now we've a decent coach, our recruitment should actually be better (it can't get any worse) We've an actual HB and a decnt FB for next year already! Some outstanding juniors coming through and we're going to see the benefit.

Long way for Leigh yet. We smashed Salford by 50 last year and didn't even manage to get home advantage in the MPG.

Re: Leigh : Sat Aug 13, 2016 9:44 pm  

Greg Florimos Boots wrote:

How would Bradford benefit if the system reverted to straight up promotion and relegation?

Note my use of the phrase 'likes of us' - I lump us in with Halifax et al nowadays!

I should have thought my point was obvious. Finishing top of a league of ones peers is easier than having to beat teams who have been playing at a higher level all season - as Leigh found out last season.

Re: Leigh : Sat Aug 13, 2016 10:10 pm  

Nothus wrote:

If Leigh go up, there's every chance that it could be Huddersfield coming the other way. And if Huddersfield get relegated I might just die laughing.

Both you and Ryan Brierley, eh?!

Re: Leigh : Sat Aug 13, 2016 10:22 pm  

Alan wrote:

Both you and Ryan Brierley, eh?!

He'd go to Leeds and then Frosties would claim he was right all along!

Re: Leigh : Sun Aug 14, 2016 8:24 am  

Nothus wrote:

He'd go to Leeds and then Frosties would claim he was right all along!

Not to Toronto then?

Re: Leigh : Sun Aug 14, 2016 9:22 am  

paulwalker71 wrote:

Note my use of the phrase 'likes of us' - I lump us in with Halifax et al nowadays!

I should have thought my point was obvious. Finishing top of a league of ones peers is easier than having to beat teams who have been playing at a higher level all season - as Leigh found out last season.

But that still does not explain how Bradford would benefit from a one up one down system. If Leigh were not to get promoted or if they were and a SL team came down Bradford are still a million miles away from been the team in position to take advantage. At least with this system there is still the chance that a team can do badly, like Bradford did, but sneak in to the top 4 then put some sort of miracle run together, make the MPG and then win a one off game. Last season was a perfect example of that, Leigh were by far the best team in our division but fell apart and Bradford were literally minutes away from a promotion that over the whole of the season may not have been deserved.