Robbie Hunter-Paul says Leigh Leopards star is ‘one of the most explosive players Super League has ever seen’
Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com.
Legend of the game and BBC pundit Robbie Hunter-Paul believes Leigh Leopards star Edwin Ipape is one of the most explosive players the Super League competition has ever seen.
Ipape, 24, is in his second season with Leigh after making the move ahead of 2022 from PNG Hunters.
He was a part of the promotion-winning side and has been one of the stand-out performers in Super League this season in his debut campaign in the top division.
The hooker was named favourite to win the Man of Steel award by the bookmakers ahead of the season’s kick-off, having won the 2022 Championship player of the year after an outstanding campaign.
Ipape is currently preparing for the Challenge Cup final showdown with Hull KR at Wembley Stadium, with former New Zealand international Hunter-Paul praising the Kumuls star.
He has been listed second favourite to win the Lance Todd Trophy in the Challenge Cup final, with club and international team-mate Lachlan Lam named favourite by competition sponsors Betfred.
Ahead of the kick-off, Hunter-Paul highlighted Ipape during the warm-up with less than 30 minutes until kick off.
The Men’s Challenge Cup final kicks off at 3:00pm, live on BBC One.
Edwin Ipape ‘one of the most explosive players Super League has ever seen’
“Edwin Ipape, a Papua New Guinea international, he is one of the most explosive players that Super League has ever seen,” Hunter-Paul said.
“He’s absolutely incredibly powerful out of the ruck.
“He loves to take the line on.
“Any chance he gets with a lazy marker, he’ll jump out and he loves nothing better than getting one of those power tries.”
He was most recently a try-scorer in the 13-6 Super League win over Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Stadium.