Exclusive: Leigh Leopards boss hails Lachlan Lam for ‘amazing season’ as he drops hint on PNG star’s future
Lachlan Lam in action for Leigh Leopards
Leigh Leopards coach Adrian Lam has praised his son Lachlan Lam for an ‘amazing season’ whilst providing the latest on the Papua New Guinea star’s future.
The Leopards are flying high in Super League and are in the Challenge Cup semi-finals, with Lachlan Lam playing a key role in their impressive season.
The Papua New Guinea star joined his father Adrian at Leigh midway through last season, helping the club achieve promotion to Super League from the Championship.
Lam has been in tremendous form for the Leopards in Super League this season, scoring seven tries and providing 20 assists in 19 appearances.
The 25-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has reportedly attracted interest from clubs in the NRL, but his father Adrian – the Leopards head coach – has provided the latest on his star man.
“I know he’s been as good as he is because I’ve coached him since he was six years old,” Adrian told Love Rugby League.
“Just being in that Roosters system for a long time has got him to another level but I still think he’s going to get better.
“I still think he’s got a running game to keep developing and maturing in that area and that’s why I think it’s important that he stays here for at least another year, and hopefully we’ll get all of that sorted out within the next 10 days.
“But more importantly, I think he’s leading the try assists, I think he’s getting up to eight tries I think in the season, so if he can find another 10 there in the last eight games it would be handy!
“He’s had an amazing season, he’s certainly put his imprint on us as a club and a team. On the field I think that left edge has been deadly.”
Lachlan Lam has become a ‘leader’ whilst at Leigh – Adrian Lam
Lachlan Lam has grown in maturity since joining the Leopards and has become a leader of the group, according to coach Adrian.
Adrian added: “I’ve coached him since he was six years old and what I’ve loved about him this year is his maturity as a player.
“He’ll sit there in the team meetings, take the information in but also ask questions like every other player but also give his opinion on things and he’s very intelligent.
“He’s got a very smart rugby brain, he’s been at the Roosters for a long time and he’s certainly helped the identity of the team we are and for that I’m really appreciative of him because he’s become a leader whilst he’s been here.”
Leigh Leopards are 80 minutes away from Wembley
Leigh face Super League champions St Helens in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup in Warrington on Saturday, 2:30pm kick-off.
But regardless of what happens this weekend, this is just the beginning for the Leopards, according to Adrian.
He said: “I think the fans have got an opportunity to talk about being second, to talk about being 80 minutes away from Wembley.
“I just love that we’re in a position that they can do that every day which they haven’t been able to do for a very long time.
“Regardless of what happens on the weekend, it’s an amazing time for the town, the club and the fans.
“It’s just from hard work, I would have grabbed it with open arms at the start of the year but we’ve still got one or two levels to go.
“We’re just beginning really, that’s the exciting part about it.
“Having said that, moving forward into 2024 and 2025, we are trying to bring in young players that our next guns coming through here.
“Our recruitment and retention has been bang on, we’re keeping all the players that we want to keep so it will pretty much be a similar squad next year with some talent added to that. But this season has been incredible, to think there are only eight games to go now.
“As a player, I remember it just flies by so we’re in a pretty good place, we are well positioned and we’ve got some tough games coming up, a lot away from home but we’ve just got to tick them off one week at a time.”
