Leigh Leopards are hoping to retain two of their most experienced players, with Adrian Lam providing an update on their future.
Both Isaac Liu and Jack Hughes are off-contract at the end of the season, but with both showing consistently high-level form this year, the club are looking to extend their stay for a little bit longer yet.
Liu joined the club ahead of 2025 from the Gold Coast Titans, and has made 46 appearances for the club to date. Hughes is a former Wigan and Warrington man, and joined the club ahead of their first season back in Super League in 2023.
Their experience and presence amongst the group has been hailed by the Leopards boss, with that being a key reason as to why the club want to keep them around.
Speaking to the press this week, Lam said: “We’re always in communication with those players, and they’re two of my favourite players because of the experience that they have.
“It’s important that whilst the squad’s becoming a lot younger we do keep senior members involved as part of the group and those two are as senior as they can.
“They’re both in the leadership group, they’re both great leaders, they’re both great talkers, and they inspire the team so we’re well underway with that.”
Hughes has played several positions this season, and after featuring at prop a fortnight ago, played in the centres against Castleford Tigers. “He’s Mr Versatile,” Lam joked.
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One player who isn’t off-contract, but has been vital for the Leopards this season, and since his arrival part-way through last year, has been Joe Ofahengaue.
The former Parramatta and Brisbane man has been in stellar form, and it has not gone unnoticed by his boss, who believes he is the best front rower in the competition.
Commenting on his forward pack overall, Lam stated that all of his forwards were crucial, but Ofahengaue in particular has been the focal point.
He said: “We’ve got some players playing big minutes too, like Joe Ofahengaue, who’s possibly the best front rower in the comp at the moment, and Isaac Liu is playing some big minutes.
“There’s a lot to like out of the first half of the season. We got off to a slow start. That was pretty well documented, but a lot of injuries and still a few of the strike players out as mentioned, but I’m excited about what’s next for us.
Praising Ofahengaue further, Lam added:Â “He’s a leader as well that people don’t get to see every day of training. He’s got a great vibe about him. He knows when to have a joke and have a laugh, but he also brings the group together.
“He’s one of those characters that is such a big personality in our team. He’s a great leader. They love him.
“There’s nothing better than a player like that who then carries the ball, I think he did over 200 metres as a front rower last week, which is big, considering the amount of minutes and times he’s played.
“He’s resilient as well. He’s played some big minutes in games. He plays 50 minutes straight in most games. I think he’s been very good for us.
“He holds them accountable. Like I said, they love him, but they also look up to him, especially a lot of the young players, a lot of our young front rowers and middles.
“Without Robbie Mulhern for the majority of the season, we’ve missed Owen Trout the last couple of weeks, we’ve been short in the middle there.
“We’ve been short throughout the whole team, but just his ever-present being around and making sure that we stick together as a group has been invaluable for us, especially me as coach. He certainly helps my process, and I appreciate that.”
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