viewtopic.php?f=18&t=549724&tsmp=1367591088

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=549724&tsmp=1367591088

Good luck to the lad if true, though I think he'd be better staying with us for a year or two to learn his trade (but then again he may join another Champ club on dual reg anyway).

At least we should theoretically get a transfer fee for him, given his contract extension?

It was rumoured to have occurred by a few on here a few days ago (Harold , Mr Chairman etc )

Sam deserves to play in Super League but I feel another 18 months with us continuing his development would have been a considerable advantage to him long term.

Unfortunately it is true. Can't blame the lad the way the situation is at Leigh at the moment.
Not sure if we can demand a fee. Did PR not say last year that all the players could leave if a super league club came in?

If he does, well done Sam but I was talking to him the other day and one thing in that post on the Saints website is that Sam couldn't take the day off work as he hasn't got a job at the moment.
I too feel he would benefit a longer stay in the Championship to hone not only his skill level but his level of consistency, something that coaches in SL may not be able to put up with, and to farm him out to Rochdale wouldn't help him one bit

Lets hope we don't breach contract and take the 40k wire offer I heard

This did get predicted earlier this week (well, it was 1 of 3 possibilities !!!)
Guess 2 were realistic, 1 no chance.

If these dicks have offered the lad a contact to secure him despite knowing they are in financial meltdown then it's a disgrace.

Lad needs to get as far away from these muppets as he can if he has any sense.

Good player probably 18 months/ 2 years away physically IMO but as good if not better than Hill at this development stage and will make the transition easily.

Agreed.

I agree he will make the transition that is no comment on the muppets lol

I can only wish the lad every success and thank him for his effort that he has put in week in week out. I think I have only seen Sam play one game where he has not run his blood to water. I also believe he will make international grade RL in 12 months. Bad for Leigh Centurions but good for the town.

Agreed Keith.

What's imperative for me going forward for the town and area as a whole is these kids i.e the future Sam Hopkins make it to he top, be that with a succesful Leigh (long term) or via Leigh Centurions as we are at present in the second tier of RL. It's good to see Leigh a stepping stone in some respects and we need to use the postive element of this thought process as for years it was seen as complete no no for the top kids to even consider Leigh, and Leigh lads who were top class only wanted to come for a final pay day after promising careers or if they failed to make it at the top.

Fred and Dave Parky seem to be really pushing the U20s and these are hopefully the next Crop of kids hopefully some of which step up and go on to big things. I've recentley supported LCTV as it will hopefully give much needed media exposure via the Internet to the club, and as we all know kids are glued to the Internet and social media and this is really being pushed and will hopefully attract kids to want to be the next Chris Hill or Sam Hopkins. John Roddy was a driving force behind Leigh's social media drive and LCTV so well done John while we are on that subject.

What is equally essential for me going forward is weather it be your club leigh East, Miners or indeed all the local area junior clubs we build trust with the mothers and fathers of the district they need faith in the people at the top table of our organisation and need to see the right communication structures and pathways in place for the kids and also the correct mentality and Professional attitude.

One of my Future projects I'd love to work on is giving the towns young people not just young players the chance of apprenticeships with my company. If bought into I believe this could give Leigh as an RL community an edge and attract more buisnesses to follow suit and give a real edge when negotiating with parents for some of the best youngsters by offering a link to futher education and a trade to support the RL. As a father or mother of a real promising kid being chased by some big clubs it may give Leigh an edge if your kid could take a Lesser standing club in RL with a championship club but have the security of a good apprenticeship and education it would be a no brainer for me which route to send them down. How many who go to SL clubs from School actually make the big time and how many end up playing championship having failed without an education or trade having followed the dream???

This is a major step for the club to entice the best young players in the area to play for the club and one that should have the complete backing of not just the Clubs and RFL but the Government. I know that busineses have helped players in the past with work but apprenticeships are the way forward for all of us. I am an electrician by trade and cannot get my head around the fact that there are very few apprenticeships for brickies, plumbers, welders, joiners, mechanics. Jesus, when I was at Leigh Tech there was a whole massive area for apprentice mechanics.