Leigh Leopards boss Adrian Lam has explained why he plans to field his strongest-possible team in Friday’s Challenge Cup tie at League One Workington Town.
Lam also says he likes the new format which sees Super League sides seeded to be away to lower division opponents in round three, but admits he has one major concern.
Other than five players ruled out through injury, Lam won’t be resting anyone when the 2023 Cup winners begin their quest to regain the trophy
“I’ve decided to name as strong a squad as possible,” he told Serious About Rugby League.
“The thinking behind it is we’ve got a lot of new faces so we’ve got to try to get some time together as a group.
“We’re looking forward to it. We’ve respected Workington by naming a strong squad and we know it’s going to be a tough place to go, but I like the idea of the RFL’s. We are right behind it and supporting it, so we’re going to go there with a strong team.”
Leigh start their Super League campaign six days after the game in Cumbria, with a trip to champions Wigan Warriors and Lam admitted he has doubts over “the timing” of the new-look Cup third round .
“That’s the million dollar question, whether it’s the right time the week before round one,” he said.
“Regardless of our thoughts as Super League coaches and clubs we have got to get behind it, but in hindsight I think it might be a bit better further down the track, or even playing a friendly against the [lower division] teams.”
Friday’s tie gives Leopards an opportunity to scratch a 30-year itch. In 1995 the club suffered the heaviest defeat in their history when they were thrashed 94-4 on the same ground they visit this week.
Then, Workington were in the top-flight and Leigh were a third division team and Lam said: “I’ve been reminded about that by a few people.
“It still sits in the back of the mind of some of our fans, but it’s completely different times now.
“It’s the start of the Challenge Cup for us and we want to respect that too. Two years ago was probably one of the highlights of our last 50 years as a club so we want to get our feet into this game and make sure we play a strong variety of rugby.”
Josh Charnley, Darnell McIntosh, Robbie Mulhern, Edwin Ipape and Ben Nakubuwai won’t play for Leigh Leopards at Workington and are all “50-50” for the Wigan game, according to Lam.
