Leigh Leopards

Adrian Lam on Leigh Leopards’ belief, Bailey Hodgson and ‘tough conversations’ with Josh Charnley

by
Will Jackson
July 5, 2025

Leigh Leopards boss Adrian Lam was proud of his men as they pulled off their second win over Wigan Warriors this season. The Leopards needed a response after shipping 48 points against Leeds Rhinos last week and they certainly got it as they beat Wigan 18-8 at Leigh Sports Village.

Wigan took the lead in the game through a Jake Wardle try and after two Adam Keighran goals, the Cherry and Whites led 8-0 at the break. However, Leigh upped their game after the break, took the game to Wigan and force them to take a step back.

Tesi Niu pulled one back before efforts from Edwin Ipape and Owen Trout saw the Leopards claim the spoils after one of the most intense games of Super League rugby this season. The win puts Leigh in third until Leeds Rhinos take on Hull KR on Sunday at the very least and they are now just three points behind second placed Wigan.

“I was just happy with the way we handled that last 40 minutes, we wanted to get in at half-time in good shape and give ourselves a chance,” Lam told Sky Sports after the game. “That’s what Wigan are like and I’m just proud of the way we managed our way through that last 40 minutes.

“I spoke to them at half-time, I thought we put ourselves under pressure as we have done for the last month. The first half we gave them all those opportunities. I thought we left three or four tries on the field. The belief was there we just needed to manage the field position a little bit better and defend and we got that in the second half.”

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Leigh Leopards boss hails key men

The Leopards were without David Armstrong, who has been ruled out for the season with the knee injury he picked up last week at Headingley. However, Bailey Hodgson ensured he wasn’t missed with a superb showing on his return to the fold.

“Wow,” Lam said when asked about the full-back’s performance. “Bailey had an awesome pre-season and it was tough to leave him out a couple of weeks but he just brings us another level as a competitor.

“I was proud of him. There was a couple of players who are carrying injuries in the game as well. They were more or less forced to play.”

Charnley was making his return to the side, too, with the veteran winger being given the chance in place of the injured Darnell McIntosh after almost leaving on loan.

“I’m happy for Josh,” Lam said. “He’s been patient sitting there. There’s been some tough times and tough conversations. Just the person that he is, he’s got this opportunity again and to come in and play against Wigan, one of his old clubs, I’m proud of him as well.”

Asked what he had to do to claim a spot in the side full-time, Lam added: “He’s just got to play better than everyone else, like anyone else. There were a couple of changes and positional changes and you always go into a game nervous about that. But we had a job to do, conditions probably didn’t suit but we managed to hang in there and get the win in the last 10-15 minutes.”