Leigh Leopards boss Adrian Lam reveals NRL coaching dream

Leigh Leopards head coach Adrian Lam has revealed his aspiration to coach a certain side in NRL in the future.

Lam, from Papua New Guinea, coached Wigan Warriors until 2021, and has since been head coach of Leigh Leopards, bringing them back to Super League and winning a Challenge Cup.

He has previously also been head coach of the PNG Prime Minister’s XI and the Papua New Guinea representative side.

It looks like a PNG side could be involved in NRL in the coming years, with expansion to Perth also a potential way to bringing the North Sydney Bears franchise back into first-grade rugby.

It wouldn’t be for a number of years still, but the groundwork has been laid – Port Moresby Vipers are bidding to join the NSW Cup, while the next World Cup, in 2026, will be held jointly by Australia and PNG.

Asked whether he would be interested in coaching an NRL side in Papua New Guinea, Lam said:  “I think that excites me to be involved in some way, down the track with PNG, whether it’s ’28, ’30 or beyond.”

However, he was also keen to mention: “I’m really, really happy where I am here at the moment. I don’t want to be anywhere else in the world to be honest with you.

“Great with all the players, fans, the greatest fanbase in Super League. How we’ve evolved as a club over the last couple of years.

“It’s just buzzing around town, to be a part of this place on Friday night last week against St Helens, it’s something that I think everyone needs to experience, especially local people here, it’s something we look forward to every week.

“To have that performance that we had here with the atmosphere, there’s no better place at the moment. So I’m loving it here.

“But yeah, I think you’ve always got look out where you think the future may lay and if is in PNG, that might be an opportunity in the future, but I think it’s exciting times ahead either way.”