Adrian Lam blasts St Helens pitch: “needs to be looked at”

Leigh Leopards head coach Adrian Lam has issued a scathing review of the St Helens pitch, after losing players to “long-term” injuries.

Speaking in a press conference this afternoon, he was asked about the status of players Tom Briscoe and John Asiata, who had scans this week.

Adrian Lam said on the club’s YouTube channel after his side’s defeat to St Helens: “Both have got a Grade Two tear in their calves.

“One’s a 12cm tear, which is John, I think Briscoe’s got a 10cm tear in there, so that’s between six weeks and onwards from that point on, so it’s long-term for both of them.”

These injuries mean they’ll be out for a similar length of time as Edwin Ipape whose ACL injury expected to also keep him out until the end of April.

The Leigh coach then made reference to the pitch at the Totally Wicked Stadium, implying that it may have had something to do with their injury problems following the game.

“There were a lot of complaints about the heaviness of the field…

“No disrespect to St Helens, and the ground, but the feedback was that it was very heavy underfoot, and three or four other players had tight calves and strains as well.

“It’s something we’re disappointed about, but we can’t change that outcome now. I just think that maybe the pitch needs to be looked at as well to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

Leigh are also without Nathan Wilde until May due to a broken collarbone.

The Leopards play against Leeds Rhinos at 8pm on Friday 8th March, live on Sky Sports Action.

Must win game for Leigh Leopards after St Helens defeat

Also speaking in his press conference, Adrian Lam said it was a must win game for his Leigh Leopards side after two defeats:

It’s a must-win for us really, is a sense of… not getting left behind on the ladder so early in the season… I realise it’s going to take some time to play our best rugby, our new players to blend in, we’ve got to find a way to win this.

We weren’t good here in Round One, with a capacity stadium, so we want to thank and respond to our fans with a performance that we’re happy with, and that they’re proud of and it starts this week.