Leigh Leopards head coach Adrian Lam has spoken about his side’s fixture list, with a tough couple of weeks coming up.
Due to their Round two clash being postponed due to Wigan’s involvement in the World Club Challenge, they now have three games in 10 days.
Asked whether the fixture list means he has to manage his squad, Lam said: “Yeah, very much so. It’s difficult at times, and sometimes, you’ve just got to deal with the hand that’s in front of you.
“We’ve had to do that all this season. So this game, the Saints game, the Wigan game, they’re all really really important to us because it could be crucial to the outcome.
“So I think like I said I think the players’ attitude and mindsets are in a really good place. We’ve just got to go there and match that 80 minutes now.”
Lam continued: “Obviously it’s not ideal, but it is what it is. We can’t really complain about it.
“All we can do is just make sure that we prepare the best case scenario. We’re a team at the moment that’s fighting for our lives. We’ve been on the canvas, backs to the canvas, backs to the floor.”
Credit: Imago Images
Speaking on how the Leopards could make the play-offs, Lam said: “We’ve just got to make sure that we hold our standards high in these next three or four games and get back to where we need to be.
“We want to hope as well that four, five and six probably at this point in the ladder slip up at some stage.
“All we can do is control our 80 minutes every week in our performance and if we keep winning then we can apply some pressure to those teams at the bottom of the six.”
Adrian Lam questions fixture list ahead of tough run for Leigh Leopards
Credit: Imago Images
Although Lam earlier said that he felt they just needed to deal with the situation, he did then question the scheduling, saying: “Round two for us, we didn’t play anyone. This is what we’re making up at the moment.
“We had to delay the game against Wigan but it’s been delayed to round 20. I think there’s a little bit of silliness about that.
“I can’t see why we just couldn’t play it in the international week when both teams could have played.
“But we go six days into five days into five days, and that puts pressure on any club regardless of how good you are or poor you are.
“So, you know, we’ve had to manage that and we’re OK with that, it’s what’s in front of us, so we’ve got to deal with it, but I’m sure there’s a better way around it in the future.”
