In the first Challenge Cup Final without Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves or St Helens, Leigh showed that they could become the next big team in the league.
Not only did they win the Challenge Cup, their first since 1971 making it four trophies in just over 12 months, they look like a real brand.
The Leopards are riding high in Super League and sit third behind Wigan and Catalans and are level with the Warriors in second.
But there is a real optimism at the club with “LeopardMania” taking over as the spiritual successor to Bullmania which underpinned Bradford’s success at the start of Super League.
Jon Wilkin highlighted this on BBC:
“Derek is a very visible owner and this ‘LeopardMania’ we are all going through is amazing, but there are lots if other people.
“We’ve got Eamonn McManus in the stands, Simon Moran and we as a game owe so much to these individual owners who out so much into our game.
“I had the privilege of speaking to Derek recently and he was talking me through the cost of putting pre-match entertainment on and the story about how they build up to games pre match.
“He said Scouting for Girls cost £12,000 and his Elvis tribute was £400 – but he is a man always looking for a deal and always looking for value.”
It was a great game as Hull KR struck first. Elliot Minchella gave away that penalty but immediately made amends as he broke through and found Jez Litten in support to score.
A Tom Briscoe error nearly led to a Tom Opacic try as the ball was kicked ahead. Opacic was then tripped up by Lachlan Lam who went for the ball but it was deemed an accident and no penalty try was given.
Leigh then said anything you can do we can do better as Kai O’Donnell broke through in similar fashion finding Lachlan Lam in support to score.
Minchella’s strange day kept going as he was penalised for a hit on Ben Reynolds and the Leopards took a 10-6 lead as Hull KR went down to 12 men.
Hull KR then nailed a penalty of their own on the stroke of halftime to make it 10-8.
The second half started as the first one ended with a Hull KR penalty as Hull KR drew level at 10-all.
It was then a very tense second half as neither side gave each other an inch. Try scoring sensation Josh Charnley had a chance when he got the ball wide but was held up.
Tom Briscoe scores tries at Wembley like it’s his backyard. Today was his eighth Challenge Cup Final try in his fifth final appearance and his eighth in the last four. He struck a decisive blow in the corner for the Leopards after a sweeping move.
But that try was cancelled out when Parcell touched down to score in the 79th minute after a kick bounced off Zak Hardaker.
However, in the end it was Leigh who will lift the Challenge Cup after a golden point drop goal from Lachlan Lam won the game for the club.
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