Leigh Leopards ‘will not stand in Lachlan Lam’s way’ if he desires NRL return

Correspondent
Lachlan Lam and Adrian Lam Leigh Leopards SWpix

Lachlan Lam and dad Adrian - Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix

Adrian Lam has remained coy on Lachlan Lam’s future at Leigh Leopards beyond this season: saying if the half-back decides to return to the NRL at the end of this season, they will not stand in his way.

Lam has been heavily rumoured to be attracting interest from numerous NRL clubs about a move for 2025 – despite him remaining under contract with Leigh until the end of next season.

With Adrian Lam agreeing a new three-year deal with the Leopards, the expectation was that his son would remain at the Leigh Sports Village until at least the end of next season, when his existing deal with the Super League club expires.

But Lam appeared to cast some doubt on that while speaking on Sky Sports’ The Verdict on Wednesday afternoon. He insisted that just like with prop Tom Amone, who is returning to the NRL with Canterbury in 2025, Leigh will not stand in Lam or any players’ way if they wish to head to the NRL.

“Lachlan is contracted for this year and next,” he said.

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“Like all players who come from Australia, they have an opportunity and a dream to go back and play in the NRL and that’s Lachlan’s as well. If that opportunity comes up, when it comes up I won’t stand in Lachlan’s way. I understand how important that is to him, if he decides to go down that path.

“But like all other players who will make that choice when it comes up, we’ll support them and we won’t stand in the way. We’ve developed some players already and whether we lose players now, this year or the years moving forward, we’ll be okay, we’ll survive. Lachlan has been unbelievable for us and created some great memories for us that the fans will never forget.

“If Lachlan decides to go home at the end of this year, it’s the same process: we’ll pat him on the back, say well done and we’ll get someone in and we’ll skill them up to do a similar job.”

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