Adrian Lam refused to comment on whether Isaac Liu would leave Leigh Leopards at the end of the season, saying it is in the club’s policy.
Liu, who is off-contract at the end of the season, has been linked with a move to Hull FC, who last night announced arguably the biggest signing in Super League history in Daly Cherry-Evans.
The Black and Whites have been crying out for some experienced bodies this year, and with both Cherry-Evans and now set to make the move, that would be an incredible boost given both players’ impressive CVs
However, when asked about the former Kiwi international’s potential exit, Lam said: “The only thing I want to say on that is that as a club I’m not allowed to comment on that. We don’t comment on that. All I know is that he’s been amazing for us and I love the guy incredibly.
“He’s such a great leader, and I’m looking forward to the next four weeks with him and to see, hopefully, him take us into the finals and see what’s next for us.”
In terms of immediate recruitment, the transfer deadline is just one week away, and Lam certainly didn’t rule out another body joining the side before that point.
“Maybe, we’ll see,” he said. “I think most clubs are active at this time so we’re no different.
“We’re talking to one or two, and it’s closing in quickly. I think every club’s in a position of talk, and we’re in that same position as well.
“If anything happens in between now and then, I’ll let you know.”
In terms of player exits though, Lam was a lot more confident. He said: “No one’s leaving, but we’ll see how that evolves in the next seven days.
“I need everyone. We can’t let anyone leave. There’s so many boys that have been out injured over this season, I think we get AJ Towse back next week in contention, and so too with Keanan Brand, who’s missed the majority of the year, so I’m pretty excited about that.”
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Leigh Leopards boss demands World Cup spot for key man after “world class” battle
One of the key positional battles in last night’s game against Leeds Rhinos, which the Leopards won 20-16, was between Leeds’ left centre and Leigh’s right centre.
Rhinos skipper Ash Handley and Leigh outside back Umyla Hanley went at it all night, and with both players wanting to outdo each other given their respective World Cup hopes, it was the Leopards player who came out on top.
You would expect that, barring any radical decisions, Herbie Farnworth would be England’s staring number three, leaving a spot open for one of those two and Jake Wardle to battle it out.
Arguably, it was Hanley who is now in pole position, with his heroic effort with and without the ball being a key reason why Leigh beat Leeds.
Asked who performed better in what was, what Lam called, a “world-class” battle, the boss said: “I’m going to back my man because, I know Ash has been one of the best centres in Super League this year and well deserved in what he’s done and everything that he’s done is absolutely brilliant, but Umyla for me, I’m not comparing the two here but for me that tackle that he made at the end of the game on Ryan Hall to get his foot across the line.
“If anyone had said to me, ‘Someone’s going to save you a try at the end of the game’, he’s going to desperately make a tackle, I would have said it was him, and all of his teammates would have said it was him because he’s the ultimate competitor.
“He’s the number one player I’ve coached in my life that competes better than anyone, and I challenge that to anyone in Super League. What he’s getting at the moment [praise], it’s well deserved and from hard work.
“…“I hope the selectors have seen what he’s done this year. He’s only played 12 games, he’s missed a few with injuries at the start, and he’d be close to being in that Dream Team again because of what he’s done in the 12 games.
“I think that was a stat that came to me tonight, that he’s only played 12 games – is that right? Anyway, I hope that the selectors have seen what they’ve seen because he’s not in that squad at the moment, and he needs to be in there.
“If they’re serious, he needs to be in there.”
