Quote valvehunter="valvehunter"After watching last nights game v Leeds & the Toronto game last week there's a number of changes needed if Leigh want to reach the top 4.
Firstly Hutchinson needs to be sidelined, his defence is shocking & it was evident Leeds targeted him last night. He lacks pace, doesn't offer any threat & his kicking game is very poor (for example, the attacking kick last week v Toronto to which the winger caught possession, ran 70 metres & Toronto won the game from) . Therefore, for me Hall & Reynolds should be the halfbacks.
As we seen when Hall played 6 he offered more of an attacking threat & linked up very well with Bodene Thompson & it was obvious that Thompson has been wanting someone to offer the distribution that Hall offered him. As we seen Thompson could run effective lines & was outstanding when Hall was supplying him with the right passes.
Secondly, Peter Matatuia should be sidelined. Before his recent move to Toronto we seen how effective he was at full back & now in the past two games hes suddenly being sent off. Therefore, that tells you his mind set is focused elsewhere & for that reason he should be sidelined.
Lastly, for me Leigh's forwards are very poor both in defence & their go forward. For me, they're getting dominated in contact far to easy. If Leigh don't address these issues immediately they can say goodbye to the middle 8's.'"
Hutchison's defence was bad against Leeds, but had been good before that. Interesting you say he lacks pace, then reference a break where he chases down an opposition 3/4. Then you mention how B Thompson's lines, without realising he's actually playing on the right edge, linking up with Reynolds.
I wouldn't be against a change in the halves but mainly because Reynolds and Hutchison are too similar. But Hall isn't exactly renowned for a strong kicking game. Plus, if he plays in the halves, who plays in the backline given we'll be missing Dawson and Matautia for a while?
"Peter Matautia should be sidelined" - He will be for a while, by the disciplinary.
The pack has struggled last couple of games. Probably first games we've played a team able to sustain it for the whole game. But you can't change the whole pack. It's up to KP to sort it on the training ground. The one change I would make is to give Acton a couple of games off. Keeps dropping the ball near his own line. Hopefully Bailey will be available next week, and one out of Dezaria / Blagbrough / Patrick needs to come in. On a ability alone, Patrick should be in the team, so whatever issue there is, it needs sorting.
