Leigh Leopards Playing Squad 2025 (as at 1 Dec 2024)
David Armstrong
Andrew Badrock
Keenan Brand
Louis Brogan
Will Brough
Ryan Brown
Josh Charnley
Jack Darbyshire
Matt Davis
Brad Dwyer
Frankie Halton
Umyla Hanley
Bailey Hodgson
Jack Hughes
Edwin Ipape
Lachlan Lam
Issac Liu
Brad Martin
Darnell McIntosh
Ben McNamara
Robbie Mulhern
Ben Nakubuwai
Tesi Niu
Gareth O'Brien
Ethan O'Neill
Aaron Pene
Kevan Rothwell
AJ Towse
Owen Trout
Nathan Wilde

Sep, I think you have missed out Alec Tuitavake and I thought Ben Nakubuwai was out of contract.

I am quoting the White Card Member - Season 2025 Handbook

We have been debating Ben for weeks. Alec was announced on the 15th December

The whole Nakubuwai thing is a mystery. The last contract announcement that was made about him was a one year deal in 2023 https://x.com/LeighLeopardsRL/status/15 ... 8044389376 He then stays in the squad for 2024, despite the fact that the club seemingly wanted to use that overseas spot elsewhere (Sailor, Armstrong), anf having finally offloaded him, he's back for 2025! What deal is he actually on?! If we gave him a 2+ year contract after the 2023 season then that was a very poor call.

The whole Nakubuwai thing is a mystery. The last contract announcement that was made about him was a one year deal in 2023 https://x.com/LeighLeopardsRL/status/15 ... 8044389376 He then stays in the squad for 2024, despite the fact that the club seemingly wanted to use that overseas spot elsewhere (Sailor, Armstrong), anf having finally offloaded him, he's back for 2025! What deal is he actually on?! If we gave him a 2+ year contract after the 2023 season then that was a very poor call.

To the best of my knowledge, no announcement were made for: Jack Darbyshire, Jack Hughes, Kevan Rothwell, Nathan Wilde and Ben Nakubuwai. All appear to have been extended without any fanfare. Only Ben Nakubuwai occupies a valuable quota slot, and now there is no room for an overseas half-back. One can only hope that Marc Sneyd is on his way to fix the slot vacated by Moylan and provide a top class kicker. Hopefully Ben is on a short-term contract and can be moved on if the need arises.

The issue with Nakubuwai, is that he is not a starting 13 first choice. He rarely plays more than 30 minutes in any game. He is competent at best and offers very little in dynamics to the team and does not play up to his size. I have nothing against him, if he didn't take up a quota slot. Amone, O'Donnell and Asiata were all starting team players and that is the quality we need from our overseas players.

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/le ... l-arrivals An outsider's opinion (fairly accurate for a starting 1icon_cool.gif does not feature Ben Nakubuwai. Perhaps Love Rugby are not aware of him signing for 2025.

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/le ... l-arrivals An outsider's opinion (fairly accurate for a starting 1icon_cool.gif does not feature Ben Nakubuwai. Perhaps Love Rugby are not aware of him signing for 2025.

Or they just don't think he would get into our best 18? I'd probably have Brogan ahead of him as well. He's just too slow for Super League, we'll never have any sort of line speed, or kick chase with him being the slowest link, and when he's 3rd tackler, he leaves a gaping hole for a dummy half to run into because he doesn't get back to the defensive line

cheer up on the brightside it was nice to see j2 sponsorship paying off already today

Has anyone seen anything to say we have extended. It doesn’t make sense to loan him out to get him off the books to get Penne over, to then extend his contract for the following season.

Ben didn't pack my membership box, if that counts for anything

The club must be aware of the debate amongst supporters as to the contractual status of Ben Nakabuwai and the others that Sep mentioned in his post. Is there any reason why the club is not providing clarity?

Nakubuwai had an option in his contract for an additional year he managed to trigger, if he can't be offloaded full time then expect him to be on loan elsewhere for the full season. Definitely wasn't the clubs choice to keep him on.

I can fully understand the clubs reasons for making statements on it as it would be pretty unfair on the player - better to do things quietly.

This made me laugh


But
He has packed other people’s membership boxes for sure.
How it rolls out from here is to be determined I guess, hence the no announcement, but if he pulls on the Leopard print in the future, he has my support.