Leigh Leopards are well in with a chance of finishing in the top four, but boss Adrian Lam knows it remains a huge task.
Leigh’s 48-10 win over St Helens this evening puts them level on points with Wakefield Trinity, who sit in fourth and play Warrington Wolves tomorrow.
A win for Wakefield in that game puts them in pole position heading into the final round clash that puts together the Leopards and Trinity.
Whilst a play-off spot is guaranteed, Lam knows how important home advantage is in the finals, with them beating Wakefield in the eliminator last year. He wants to have that in his back pocket again, but that comes with winning next week.
“We’ve got to rely on another teams winning tomorrow or over the weekend. There’s still mathematically a chance, for and against.
“What we’re in control of is our 80-minute performance next week regardless. Other things are out of our control.
“We can’t put too much thought into that. We would have probably accepted where we are a third of the way through the season. To be in this position, with one game to go, we would have taken that way back then.
“I’ve got to appreciate how hard everyone’s worked to lock us in now. We’ll wait and see.”
Leigh Leopards boss praises star pair after St Helens win
Outside back pair Umyla Hanley and Josh Charnley were sensational again, with the latter even announcing a new deal this evening after scoring the opening try.
Hanley crossed for two of Leigh’s eight scores, and yet again Lam is calling for the centre to receive honours.
“He’s like watching my own child,” Lam said. “Just, some of the stuff that he’s done in the time since we debuted him at Wigan there, so I’m happy for him.
“…He’s certainly setting the standards of this club since our promotion back up into Super League.”
Asked if he should make the Super League Dream Team for the second year running, Lam replied: “I think he should be in it, but I don’t know if he’s played enough games… hopefully he finds a way in there.”
On Charnley, the Leigh boss added: “He’s a great character. Highest try scorer in the Super League era. The boys love him.
“He’s a fan’s favourite. It’s great to have him part of a club moving forward over the next 12 months.”
