Leigh Leopards boss Adrian Lam has delivered a bleak injury update ahead of the club’s Challenge Cup Third Round game this weekend.
The Leopards will travel to North Wales Crusaders on Saturday, as they take on the Welsh outfit for the first time since September 2014, but they will be doing so with just 19 fit players.
Leigh suffered injuries to several key players in their final pre-season game against Warrington Wolves, but Lam has confirmed that the club’s injured list is currently sitting on double figures.
Speaking exclusively to Serious About Rugby League at the Super League media launch, the PNG legend gave a run down of his current selection issues ahead of this weekend’s contest.
“There’s a fair few on the injury list this week,” Lam confirmed.
“I think we’ve got a squad of 30 and I think we’ve only got 19 to choose from.
“We’ve had the usual injuries – David Armstrong’s been out for a while, but, you’ve got people like Isaac Liu out, Robbie Mulhern.”
From that game against the Wolves, Leigh had two players fail HIA’s – Joe Ofahengaue and Liam Horne, whilst Matt Davis is also sidelined.
Dream Team centre, Umyla Hanley is another that will miss the game, and he is a doubt for the club’s season opener, too, where they will host Leeds Rhinos in round one.
The 23-year-old has suffered an AC sprain, though the good news for Leigh fans is the Lam was positive that that majority of the injuries would be healed by the time the Rhinos arrive at the Leigh Sports Village.
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Leigh Leopards boss provides latest on injured star David Armstrong
The aforementioned Armstrong is one of Leigh’s long-term casualties, after been missing since the end of June, after suffering an ACL injury.
In quite an incredible scenario that shows the toughness of rugby league players, Armstrong confirmed post-surgery that he had actually been playing on the injury for three and a half matches.
Lam has confirmed when we can expect to see the star full-back in the side again, and it’s a tad further on than what was initially stated.
In August, it was reported by the boss that Armstrong could be back in mid-March, but it’s now looking as though he won’t be back in action until April.
Commenting on his progress, Lam said: “He was on-field today [Wednesday], starting to sprint, run out and he looks pretty good.
“I’m excited that he’s back in full-time training, but he’s not due until round eight, or plus.
“It was good to see him out on the field with the main group.”
Leigh will take on York Knights in round eight, in what will be the first time ever Leigh meet the Knights in a Super League fixture.
