Leigh Leopards’ head of rugby Chris Chester has opened up on the process that led to the club securing star hooker Edwin Ipape’s long-term future.
Ipape has signed a new six-year deal with the Leopards, with the Papua New Guinea international committing himself to the club until the end of the 2031 Super League season.
It’s a deal that ends speculation that Ipape could be set for a move to the NRL at the end of the 2025 campaign and with a team from Papua New Guinea preparing to enter the competition, it rules out a return to his homeland any time soon.
It also ensures the hooker will spend his prime years as a player with the club, leading the way as Leigh look to build on what have been two very impressive years back in Super League.
As such, news of the new deal, which was announced shortly before Leigh Leopards’ win over Huddersfield Giants, was met with huge amounts of excitement and Chester has now lifted the lid on how Ipape came to his decision.
“I’d like to thank Derek for his continued investment in our club which secured such a fantastic player for the prime years of his playing career,” Chester told the Leopards’ club website. “Edwin has been an unbelievable signing ever since he arrived and on his debut on a bitterly cold day at York we knew he had something special to offer.
“His progress as a player since has been unbelievable and for him to commit for such a long time is a massive boost for the club and town.
“Edwin is idolised by many people in the town and the welcome that he and his family received when they first arrived has been a big factor in him making this decision.
“We spoke to him at the end of last season about extending his contract. Edwin is a deep thinker, and he wanted to go home to PNG and decide in his head that it was the right thing to do.
“He is loved by the playing group, the staff and the town and that love was a big overriding reason for him committing to Leigh Leopards.
“His relationship with Derek, Adrian and myself is another big factor. We care about all our players and when Edwin came over here initially, he was on his own for some time before his family arrived. He even missed the birth of his second child such was his commitment to the team.
“That has now been rewarded with the contract that secures his future and will make him eligible for a testimonial when the contract finishes. For an overseas player to go into that kind of territory is unbelievable and for Edwin to have committed ten years to the club is a fantastic show of faith and loyalty towards Leigh Leopards.
“I’m really proud for Edwin and it’s a great story and a huge statement by our club.”
