Leigh Leopards boss Adrian Lam believes that the club’s defeat to Huddersfield Giants can make them better, and is confident his side will be able to bounce back.
The Leopards travelled to the Accu Stadium and were handed a shock result, but that was equally due to Leigh not showing up as it was Huddersfield impressing.
However, with two games to go and a top four spot up for grabs, it’s not a performance that the club needed at such a crucial time of the season. However, an optimistic Lam is hoping to use the result to spur the side on ahead of the finals.
“It was a tough night, and then a tough couple of days just to get your head around it because we didn’t see that one coming, and we played quite badly to be honest.
“Again, I’ll repeat that I thought Huddersfield were very, very good, and we were the complete opposite to what we’ve been over the last four months.
“There was a lot to dissect after the game and after the performance, a lot of accountability and honesty with individuals and we move on. I’m not one to hold on to those sort of moments for too long. They come and they go, and if we’re better for it, well then I can cop it and accept it, which we have and which we’ve done.”
Lam is confident that the result “isn’t the end of the world”, and could even improve them going forward.
“I think for a long time we’ve been on the tightrope really with our performances and having to win from the slow start that we had and the injuries that we had. We’ve been on edge the whole time, so we’ve been very good for a very long time, and a slip-up like that isn’t the end of the world.
“In fact, if it helps us tick a couple of boxes that we haven’t covered, it could potentially make us better. We’re looking at it that way, looking at it as a positive in the sense of what have we missed and let’s not let that happen again and focus now and get the attitude right for the next two home games.”
Asked how the result affected the playing group, Lam replied: “I think I’ve got a group of men there that are emotionally connected to our focus and who we want to be.
“I’ve got individuals there that are mentally tough and who can be embarrassed about a performance as well, but also have the ability and courage to respond, and that’s what the question is now. There’s question marks over, can we just put that aside and get back to the Leopards? So that’s the challenge.
“I was quite honest and direct and to the point last week. I couldn’t have been any clearer. So the players have now got an opportunity to show me and the fans and the club that they belong in the 13 and the 17 and respond accordingly.”
