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NRL clubs ‘circling’ Leigh Leopards star who is “open to offers”

Leigh Leopards Edwin Ipape

According to reports Down Under, NRL clubs are circling to sign an off-contract Leigh Leopards star who is reportedly “open to offers”.

Leigh have seen two of their star players return to the NRL this off-season in Tom Amone and Kai O’Donnell and losing another at the end of this season would be devastating, but it certainly seems like there is a chance.

That’s because The Mole of Wide World of Sports is reporting that off-contract hooker Edwin Ipape is believed to be “open to offers” to make a move to the NRL when his deal comes to an end.

Ipape is one of the highest-profile players in Super League without a deal beyond 2025 and he’s certain to catch the eye of NRL teams, with “several” now circling per these reports. Just last year journalist Brad Walter urged NRL clubs to sign the hooker.

During his maiden season in Super League, Ipape earned Dream Team honours and he would have come close to the feat again in 2024 had it not been for his injury-struck season.

Those injuries carried over into the post-season meaning that he missed out on representing Papua New Guinea at the Pacific Championships, where clubmate Lachlan Lam starred.

NRL clubs circling for Leigh Leopards star Edwin Ipape

Lam is another of Leigh’s stars who is off-contract and he will also likely attract NRL interest but per these reports from The Mole, it is Ipape who is garnering attention at the moment.

The report reads: “Several NRL clubs are looking at the man rated the best hooker in Super League – Papua New Guinea sensation Edwin Ipape.”

In reference to Ipape’s potential desire to make the move, it states: “The 25-year-old comes off contract with English club Leigh at the end of the season and is believed to be open to offers from the NRL after four long years overseas.”

Given the fact that the NRL is set to expand to 18 and potentially even 20 teams in the coming years and with one of those teams confirmed to be based in Papua New Guinea, it will only get harder for Super League sides to retain their talents as Leigh Leopards found out last year.

They will face a strong fight to keep Ipape given the huge resources that NRL clubs have in comparison to Super League sides. At just 25, the Leigh Leopards man is set to approach the prime of his career as well.

Recently, Adrian Lam confirmed that the hooker is a doubt to start the season for the Leopards on account of injury with Leigh travelling to take on Wigan Warriors in the first match of the 2025 Super League season.

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