“Cat-tastic” – Tiger King star Carole Baskin sends bizarre congratulatory message to Leigh Leopards

In the first Challenge Cup Final without Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves or St Helens since 1986, it was Leigh Leopards and Hull KR who took centre stage at Wembley in one of the most dramatic Challenge Cup Finals ever.

It was the first to be decided by golden point as Lachlan Lam nailed the decisive drop goal against the Robins in extra time to win the game.

Lam had scored the Leopards’ first try of the game and won the Lance Todd trophy as Man of the Match in what was a great moment for the rebranded club winning their first Challenge Cup since 1971.

It was a well deserved moment and one that flies in the face of the criticism the club faced for their rebrand.

Now, star of the Netflix show Tiger King and animal rights activist Carole Baskin has sent them a bizarre congratulatory message vie Cameo on Boomers and Swingers at Astley Golf Driving Range.

She said: “Hey all you cool cats and kittens who are Leigh Leopards, oh my catness, I here that you mauled those other rugby teams.

“I am supporting my Leopards, because I love the Leigh Leopards. You guys wear cats pyjamas, you are tigeriffic.

“Hey you did it. Well done, absolutely well done. And I hear you guys are just a tiny little bus stop in Wigan but look at you, you’re the Leigh Leopards.

“Oh it is just cat-tastic and to see it, the whole world has seen it, you guys are like famous. So congratulations.”

You can watch it here.

https://twitter.com/BoomersSwingers/status/1691474688046710784?s=20

One man who would have loved this message is owner Derek Beaumont.

After the club’s recent celebrations, he made the following statement:

“We were blown away with our send off and how many people attended that but the home coming was mind blowing.

“I would like to thank the Marriott Hotel in Worsley for allowing us to swap into the open top bus on their grounds. When we left there and turned off the A580 to Astley and saw the gathering ahead of us right at the start point we were simply staggered by it.

“As we continued the journey we were amazed by just how many people lined the streets and were waving from their gardens and windows along the way, in between the massive gatherings in the towns of Tyldesley and Atherton which was unbelievable.

“When we finally reached Leigh it was an incredible turnout and picture that will last with us all a lifetime and made us feel so proud! The scenes and colours on show old and new just embedded how this club can move into a new era whilst retaining its heritage.

“I would like to personally thank every single person who made that effort to welcome us, it is inspirational, it really is.

“I would like to thank Wigan Council for their fantastic support and putting on such a reception for us with big screens and staging and entertainment for everyone. It shows the quality and importance of the town to the Borough and we should be proud every single one of us in whatever capacity.

“I would like to thank our police force and ambulance service for their support of the event and our highways department for managing all the road situations required to make the unique scenes possible.

“I would also like to thank the security staff and stewards that were in place throughout and did a fantastic job. It really was a great team effort from everyone involved that was befitting for the effort of the team to pull off an amazing achievement!

“It far exceeded any expectations and has left us motivated and inspired to try and now have a dream to not do something we did over fifty years ago but something we have never done before. We will draw on these images and videos to push us towards that over the coming weeks months and years.”