Leigh coach challenges squad to leave ‘legacy’ as 2023 heroes hailed on anniversary

Adrian Lam has challenged his Leigh side to leave a ‘legacy’ for the town by winning silverware, just as the Leopards did three years ago by lifting the Challenge Cup.

August 12 marked three years to the day since the Leopards, during their first season back in Super League, produced one of the greatest moments in the club’s history by beating Hull KR at Wembley.

That triumph, of course, came by a 17-16 margin courtesy of Lachlan Lam’s winning drop goal in Golden Point extra time: sparking scenes of ecstasy.

Fast forward three years, and Leigh have endured three Super League play-off heartbreaks: going out at the eliminator stage against KR just a few months after that cup final before losing to Wigan Warriors at the semi-final stage in 2024 and 2025.

This year, Lam’s side have recovered from a dire start to the campaign and now appear likely to be involved in the play-offs for the fourth season running: with Old Trafford the target oncemore.

‘We’re striving for greatness, that comes with time and maturity and we’re working hard to get that right balance’

It may only have been three years ago, but 2023 Lance Todd Trophy winner Lam junior is one of just seven players still with Leigh today that were involved in the Challenge Cup final against KR.

Gaz O’Brien, Josh Charnley, Edwin Ipape, Robbie Mulhern, Jack Hughes and Matt Davis are the others, with Mulhern bound for Castleford Tigers at the end of the season and others on that list potentially set to follow him out of the exit door.

Speaking on the anniversary of the cup triumph as he looked ahead to Thursday night’s trip to Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos, head coach Lam said: “It’d be nice (to win silverware with the current group of players).

“We’re trending in the right direction and on both occasions (in the last two seasons), we were 80 minutes away from Old Trafford, which is incredible considering where we were five years ago.

“I’ve loved every moment of the journey, the Challenge Cup is the one big moment, but I’ve loved every day.

“I’ve loved every moment here… our fans are so good, and I’m fortunate enough to drive here every day to spend time with the group of players I have now.

“We’re always changing, but coming here on game day and having the event with all that entertainment here, it’s so good to be a part of.”

“We’re striving for greatness, that comes with time and maturity and we’re working hard to get that right balance.”

‘We want to give the town something to cheer for every week’

Lam, who will turn 56 later this month, has been in charge of Leigh since the start of 2022 – when he inherited a shell of a club that had just been relegated from Super League for the third time.

Achieving promotion at the first time of asking, he has transformed the Leopards into one of Super League’s top teams, and their push now is to try to finish in the top four for the second year on the spin.

The Papua New Guinean added: “The first part was to give the town some hope with the arrival, and then it was building some sort of legacy here for the next people that come in.

“We want to give the town something to cheer for every week. The fans are coming here in big numbers now and we’re winning at home, which is certainly important.

“At this point in time, it’s a day-to-day basis with a lot of work still to do and that starts on Thursday night (against Leeds).

“We’re in a position where we’re in the top six again, we haven’t missed (out on) the six since coming back into Super League.

“That’s not guaranteed to us this year, but we’re working hard to hold that top six position down and we’re striving towards that top two or even top spot. That’s where everyone’s trying to get to.

“We’ve always got our finger on the pulse with that. It takes a bit of time and recruitment and retention and all that.

“We’re on the front foot with trying to be better.”