[Dick Jones]

Re: Player Retention : Tue Jul 12, 2022 5:14 pm  

Reynolds signed for two years last season so he’s in next year too

Re: Player Retention : Wed Jul 13, 2022 11:44 am  

Leigh Twitter has announced Keanan Brand now here until end of '24. More good news.

Re: Player Retention : Wed Jul 13, 2022 6:14 pm  

Bent&Bongser wrote:

Leigh Twitter has announced Keanan Brand now here until end of '24. More good news.

This is very good news. A clear sign of a club and team with the right environment. Keanan has not been a clear first choice on the team sheet since we bolstered our back line, but obviously sees his career building positively at Leigh regardless. That only happened when a players experiences the right environment and feels valued.
I’m confident he will play a vital part in the rest of this season and in the future.

Re: Player Retention : Thu Jul 14, 2022 3:16 am  

Reward for some very solid displays from Keanan this season despite playing out of position on the wing for most of the time.

He always gives a lot of effort and has benefitted this season from playing with confidence in a winning team.

For my money, he struggled last season but then again he was in a team that was struggling every week. I am expecting much better from him next year and I am confident that he will be far more solid for us when we step up. Although playing at a lower level this season he has visibly improved in his play, probably due to our exceptional coaching team and to playing with obvious confidence.

As VL has observed, he has not been a first choice in the team once better players were added to the squad but he has been and will continue to be a very useful squad player and in that respect the contract extension is fair and just reward..

Re: Player Retention : Thu Jul 14, 2022 5:38 am  

One other positive to this is that it may be a positive for the signing of other young quality players, who may be looking for a team environment that they can develop in. If we are to be what DB is aiming for, a sustainable and long term SL team, we need top quality now, and future young stars who can be solid squad players next season and develop into SL first choice in the near future. Keanan's signing and word of mouth amongst his peers, is exactly what may bring those players on board.

Re: Player Retention : Fri Jul 15, 2022 2:55 pm  

Chamberlain has resigned too which is also good news.

Bell in on dual-reg, looks like a straight swap to give Asiata a well deserved rest (not heard anything else more negative).

Re: Player Retention : Fri Jul 15, 2022 3:15 pm  

Head of Rugby Chris Chester said: “Ed (Chamberlain) has been arguably one of our most consistent players this season.

“His performances this season have warranted this new deal and we are well aware we can’t carry everyone into 2023. But it’s important to get our best British talent signed up and Ed is definitely one of them.

Totally agree Chezzy.

Re: Player Retention : Fri Jul 15, 2022 3:30 pm  

Update

1. Aekins – Keep – Hopefully can obtain a British passport (Dual nationality)
2. Hitchcox – Let go - Limited opportunities and is Australian (Out on loan - unlikely to return)
3. Brand – Retained
4. McDonald – Retained – Top try scorer- unorthodox Centre
5. Nisbet – Let go – Played Wing and pack - a trier put lacking the pizzaz of Inu, Ferguson and Charnley
6. Reynolds – Retained
7. Mellor – Retained
8. Sidlow – Keep – Solid all round has improved discipline having been made Captain
9. Smith – Sign – Smith has spent several seasons at Leigh and needs to make the move permanent.
10. Ioane – Let go- Residency is only applicable to International choices - If he was British a definite keep
11. Wardle - Retained
12. Stone – Keep
13. Amone – Keep – Star Prop
14. Green – Keep – Unfortunate injury – Plenty of SL experience
15. Hingano – Let go
16. Chamberlain – Retained
17. Jones – Let go
18. Asiata – Keep – SL Contract if promoted - option of retailing if in the championship
19. Roberts – Keep - (Out on season loan)
20. Dixon – Let Go – (Out on season loan) unlikely to return
21. Ipape – Retained – Oh Edwin Ipape (I love that man)
22. McDonnell – Sign – Highly rated by Lam but still a Wigan loanee.
23. Inu – Keep – I would like another season from this top performer (At 35 he might hang up his Blue and Red Boots)
24. O’Donnell - Keep – Hopefully can obtain a British passport (Dual nationality)
25. Nakubuwai – Undecided – Getting better with every game
26. Ferguson – Keep – A little bit of stardust at the LSV
27. Charnley – Signed

Rumours of a long extension for a key member of the Squad - Aekins, O'Donnell, Stone or Amone (With Amone the likely target)

Re: Player Retention : Fri Jul 15, 2022 10:38 pm  

Deeeekos wrote:

Chamberlain has resigned too which is also good news.

Bell in on dual-reg, looks like a straight swap to give Asiata a well deserved rest (not heard anything else more negative).

Very pleased about Chambo, he's been really reliable this year and Leigh's commitment to him and vice versa is the loudest statement yet that his injury is summat 'n' neauwt.

The interesting thing in your post Deeeekos, is the mention of a straight swap. Is someone going to Saints or do you just mean that it's like for like(ish) for Asiata's "feet-up time"?

Re: Player Retention : Sat Jul 16, 2022 1:53 am  

Another signing that signals any eye on the future, with recognition of the effort and improvement shown this season. Young players looking to make their mark, will again take note of this signing, as they will of the Keanan Brand signing.
We are building the foundations of next year and beyond nicely.