Leigh Leopards 2.0 will be an improvement on the original, but it could take a while for the reboot to start running smoothly.
That’s the message from coach Adrian Lam ahead of the 2023 Wembley winners’ Super League opener at all-conquering Wigan Warriors on Thursday.
Leigh recovered from a tough start to finish fifth in the table last year before their season ended in a play-off semi-final defeat away to Wigan.
Some big names have departed since then, including Tom Amone, John Asiata, Zak Hardaker, Oliver Holmes, Ed Chamberlain and Kai O’Donnell who all featured in the famous golden-point triumph against Hull KR at Wembley two years ago.
With Matt Moylan and Ricky Leutele also crossed off, that’s a lot of experience to be replaced and Lam admitted it won’t happen overnight, but he’s confident the new version will be worth it once they click into gear.
He told Serious About Rugby League: “I felt it has taken us three years to teach the team how to get to where we were – we were 80 minutes away from Old Trafford last year, but now we have to reset and start all over again.
“It could take that amount of time to get this group right. I hope it doesn’t, but you have always got to build and that takes time. We are pretty excited about it too.”
Newcastle Knights full-back David Armstrong is Leigh Leopards’ most eye-catching recruit since the end of last season and Lam is happy with the squad they’ve put together.
A 60-0 romp at League One Workington Town last week proved they have points in them and Lam insisted: “With the aging group we had last year – much as I love them and will forever be grateful – it was probably heading in the other direction.
“I know we were 80 minutes away, but we made a decision to bring a lot more youth and x-factor in. I think in the end it will be a stronger squad, we’ve just got to get to that point.”
