Leigh coach sends clear message to England boss over ‘ultimate competitor’ Umyla Hanley

Leigh Leopards boss Adrian Lam has sent a clear message to England boss Brian McDermott, insisting star centre Umyla Hanley ‘needs to be’ in his squad for this autumn’s Rugby League World Cup.

Hanley was among those mooted for an England call-up ahead of last year’s Ashes Series against Australia, but did not make the cut as Shaun Wane’s side were whitewashed 3-0 on home soil by the Kangaroos.

Wane has since departed as the head coach of the national team, with former Leeds Rhinos boss McDermott drafted in to lead the team Down Under in the 2026 World Cup, which takes place across Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Having shone throughout the season in a Leigh shirt, Hanley delivered arguably his best showing yet for the Leopards as they became the first side to beat McDermott’s former side Leeds at Headingley this season on Thursday night.

And now, Leopards head coach Lam has campaigned for the 24-year-old – who was named in the Super League Dream Team last season – to be rewarded for his efforts with an England call-up this autumn.

‘He’s the ultimate competitor, as good as I’ve coached in my time’

Hanley scored a try of his own and assisted another at Headingley before pulling off a remarkable try-saver on Ryan Hall in the dying embers of the game to help see out a victory which will live long in the memory for all connected to Leigh.

Post-match, boss Lam said: “Umyla was immense, and he’s been like that for a long time now. He’s the ultimate competitor, as good as I’ve coached in my time.

“The gods of rugby league reward that in those moments (like the try-saver on Hall), it’s not by luck.

“If I were to tell the team that would happen and ask the team who it’d be (making the tackle), they’d say him.

“I’m pleased for him because he puts himself in the picture every moment that’s there, and I thought there were some really big moments which we won tonight.

“They’re the difference between winning and losing.”

A product of Wigan’s youth system, Hanley joined Leigh ahead of the 2023 campaign, linking back up with Lam – the man who handed him his Super League debut during his time in charge of the Warriors.

The centre had been set to leave the world of professional rugby league behind and work on a building site, but has since scored 33 trie in 72 appearances across all competitions for the Leopards: who appear destined for another crack at the play-offs.

Lam continued: “He’s the number one player I’ve coached in my life that competes better than anyone, and I challenge that against anyone in Super League.

“What he’s getting at the moment (in terms of praise) is well deserved and it comes from hard work. There’s no shortcuts, he is the ultimate professional.

“I couldn’t get him to us quick enough (when he left Wigan) and I hope the (England) selectors have seen what he’s done this year.

“He missed a few games with injuries at the start of the year, but he’ll be close to getting in the (Super League) Dream Team again because of what he’s done in the 12 games he’s played.

“The selectors have seen what they’ve seen. He’s not in that (performance) squad at the moment and he needs to be in there, he seriously needs to be in there.”