Leigh injury update as Adrian Lam previews Super League return

Drew Darbyshire
Adrian Lam Leigh Leopards News Images

Photo: Steve Flynn/News Images

Leigh coach Adrian Lam reported a clean bill of health amongst his squad as he said the opening rounds of Super League won’t define their season.

The Leopards are preparing to make it fourth time lucky in Super League, having suffered relegation in their last three campaigns in the top flight.

Leigh have enjoyed an impressive recruitment drive over the off-season. They’ve brought the likes of Zak Hardaker, Ricky Leutele and Jack Hughes to the club.

But Lam reckons it will take time for us to witness the Leopards at their best, given that several members of their squad played at the World Cup.

“I think we’re in as good a place as in what we’ve done so far in pre-season,” Lam said after their 22-10 pre-season defeat at Warrington on Saturday.

“The first six weeks of the competition is not going to define us as a club for this season.

“I think we’re going get better as it goes along. Players like Lockie Lam, Ben Nakubuwai and Edwin Ipape have only been in training for three weeks. But as soon as we have more time together I think we can we can take that next step up.

“We’ve had a lot of World Cup players in our squad whether it be for Ireland, Fiji, Papa New Guinea or anyone else. We’ve had a group of them not come until after Christmas.”

Adrian Lam provides injury update on Leigh squad

Fiji international Ben Nakubuwai, new recruit Ava Seumanufagi and Joe Mellor didn’t feature in their pre-season defeat at Warrington.

Experienced forward Joe Wardle left the field with a hip injury. Hooker Aaron Smith took a knock to his collarbone, but Lam reckons they will be okay.

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Taking the positives

Lam says his side can take plenty of positives from their loss at Warrington, coupled with a pre-season win over Leeds last month.

“I’ve got mixed feelings but but overall I’m pretty proud really,” Lam said.

“I think it’s exactly what we needed as a team. That’s a second friendly now, one against Leeds and the other against Warrington, so they are two quality teams. I thought for majority of that game we were in a good place.

“We needed a really good tough hit out I think. Going away to to Super League club that has certainly recruited really well, I thought we played some good rugby. And I thought we played a part in the game turning which I’m okay with.

“When we settle on the 17 I think we’ll be hard to beat if we put that effort in every week.”

Leigh get their Super League campaign underway against Salford on February 17.

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