Two Horse Race ? I Don’t Think So. : Mon Jul 11, 2022 11:21 pm  

Having just watched the Halifax v York Game, I will say that Fax worry me more than Fev do right now. They are really hitting their stride and a very well coached team, who have great shape in attack, tenacious defence in their own 20, and some very talented players, who look fit and committed.
This game had me double checking if we play them before the playoffs (we don’t and Fev do as their last game ). I believe that Fax will finish 2nd and be our biggest threat in a one off game.
Well played fax, and York also played well, but Fax are clearly a stronger team right now.
Lam and Co will be watching lots of Fax games between now and the playoffs.

Re: Two Horse Race ? I Don’t Think So. : Tue Jul 12, 2022 3:34 am  

Yes, Fax are a decent team and their game to come against Fev should be interesting from a Leigh perspective.

I was certainly impressed by them in our away game at Fax earlier in the season, but that was before the current Leigh squad juggernaut had been fully assembled and pushed into ever increasing forward motion. We certainly did a job on them in our subsequent home fixture and in that game they did not lay a glove on us despite the fact they were in the midst of a very good run of form and results. Perhaps that game said more about where Leigh had got to since that earlier fixture.

Speaking to some of the Fax technical support staff at the away game they certainly rated Leigh as the best team that that had seen in the League at that stage in the season and that with a degree of certainty they felt that Leigh would do a job on Fev in the remaining fixtures between the two - their language, I remember, was far more prosaic than that!

The way things are panning out ie injuries to key players and current form, I think Fax are in with more than just a good shout of turning over Fev in the play offs. In that respect, I very much agree with your comments VL.

Although Fev are an impressive attacking force their defence is porous, as teams well down the Championship ladder have discovered when playing them. The fear that Fev fans will have is that a team like Fax will score tries against them and that they (Fax) also have a tighter defence than most teams. If that happens then in a close game Fev could well fold again. I'm sorry, but the perceived 'McDermott effect' that in a one off, winner takes all, play off game that Fev will miraculously come good which some Fev Fans are holding out for, is pure speculation. Its a prayer in the dark rather than a pragmatic assessment of actual form and of what is actually likely to occur.

Do we need to keep an eye on Fax, yes we do, however, whilst we can very much lose games before the end of the season I really do not think, with the side that we have, that we will lose another game this season.

These words may come back to haunt me and despite my confident view, that is the joyous uncertainty of sport, but I like what I see with this Leigh team and unlike some of our rivals who have peaked already we are still getting better and better.

Re: Two Horse Race ? I Don’t Think So. : Tue Jul 12, 2022 6:03 am  

I honestly don’t see Fev beating Fax in their final game and Fev will then be 3rd at best.
They have lost their game breaker for the season (Kheirallah) and Ford is running more like an old Mk3 Cortina 1300, than a Mustang.
Fax showed great resilience defending their line against York (6 sets in a row seen off), but York do not have the middles and back line threats that we have.
Not grabbing the calculator and heading to the hen house yet, but with the focus we have on nilling teams, I do agree that we don’t lose another regular season game.

Re: Two Horse Race ? I Don’t Think So. : Tue Jul 12, 2022 10:06 am  

Looking at the league table it would need Fax to win all our remaining games which I do think is possible but needs Fev to lose 3 which would be Leigh, Fax and 1 other. I just can't see the one other happening. I do think we can go there in the playoffs and win though, we should have beaten them earlier in the season and they were playing well at that point. We won't get near Leigh though and I feel the same for Fev. Batley will have a big say in the race for 3rd though.

[Dick Jones]

Re: Two Horse Race ? I Don’t Think So. : Tue Jul 12, 2022 5:12 pm  

Love you guys to get in the final though not at our expense

Re: Two Horse Race ? I Don’t Think So. : Tue Jul 12, 2022 7:55 pm  

Greg Florimos Boots wrote:

Looking at the league table it would need Fax to win all our remaining games which I do think is possible but needs Fev to lose 3 which would be Leigh, Fax and 1 other. I just can't see the one other happening. I do think we can go there in the playoffs and win though, we should have beaten them earlier in the season and they were playing well at that point. We won't get near Leigh though and I feel the same for Fev. Batley will have a big say in the race for 3rd though.

I’m betting on one of York, Widnes or Sheffield stepping up (most likely York), to beat Fev.
My original post is more an appreciation of how Fax have developed into a strong playoff contender rather than a bash on Fev. I do think Fax will go unbeaten now, (but Im not know for being a smart man) and Fev are vulnerable in defence against any team.
No matter what, I am more concerned about playing Fax than Fev in the playoffs.

Re: Two Horse Race ? I Don’t Think So. : Thu Jul 14, 2022 2:28 pm  

And Fev have now just loaned out Ben Hellewell to Salford. Reported as a short term loan, but why send out one of your better forwards to SL at such a vital time !
(Also rumoured that Wildie is heading to Wakey as part of the Lineham deal. If that one is true then I really am backing Fax).

Re: Two Horse Race ? I Don’t Think So. : Thu Jul 14, 2022 8:19 pm  

Vancouver Leyther wrote:

And Fev have now just loaned out Ben Hellewell to Salford. Reported as a short term loan, but why send out one of your better forwards to SL at such a vital time !
(Also rumoured that Wildie is heading to Wakey as part of the Lineham deal. If that one is true then I really am backing Fax).

Evening Vanners, Hellewell reported as a two week loan. He didn't play against Broncos last weekend. His absence vs 'Haven should still see a Fev win. But then come York in the second week of the loan.

Mac is making some interesting decisions. He obviously doesn't trust Ford. Why sign him? Seems Ford was crocked in training this week as it happens anyway.

Greg's right, Fev would have to lose three to end up in third. With the points difference as it is, two losses and a draw probably wouldn't be enough. It would be very funny though after all the pundits' pre-season predictions and we Comics do like a laugh.

Re: Two Horse Race ? I Don’t Think So. : Thu Jul 14, 2022 10:15 pm  

Bent&Bongser wrote:

Evening Vanners, Hellewell reported as a two week loan. He didn't play against Broncos last weekend. His absence vs 'Haven should still see a Fev win. But then come York in the second week of the loan.

Mac is making some interesting decisions. He obviously doesn't trust Ford. Why sign him? Seems Ford was crocked in training this week as it happens anyway.

Greg's right, Fev would have to lose three to end up in third. With the points difference as it is, two losses and a draw probably wouldn't be enough. It would be very funny though after all the pundits' pre-season predictions and we Comics do like a laugh.

The timing of the York game makes the Hellewell loan really puzzling. I saw York giving Fev a really good test and no Hellewell just makes me think that that could be the third loss. It was only resolute defence that held York at bay for 6 set against Fax. A try at that time could have changed how that game then progressed.
BUT… the 5 players getting a ban from the weekend for Fax now throws a Texas size spanner in my theory. They have easier games on paper the next 3 weeks but 5 banned plus any injuries is a huge ask for any team !
Hard to count the chickens when they keep running in unexpected directions, and farmer Mac has me completely flummoxed as to his plan

Re: Two Horse Race ? I Don’t Think So. : Sun Jul 17, 2022 2:58 pm  

Well it’s 07:55 am in Vancouver, and flash scores is telling me that Wakey are 12-10 up at halftime !
That 3rd potential loss could be coming sooner than I thought !!!!!
BMac will be a peach for whoever dares interview him no matter what the final score is