Leigh Leopards have allowed Ben McNamara to head out on loan this week, as the playmaker joins Bradford Bulls.
The Bulls have secured his services for this week’s trip to Wigan Warriors, as the move works for both parties with Bradford in desperate need for a playmaker and McNamara needing added game time.
The son of Bulls icon, Steve, has featured for Leigh eight times this season, but has only played in cameo roles. Now that Edwin Ipape is back in the side, and Liam Horne is featuring off the bench, McNamara’s services, in the short term, aren’t required so a loan move is a suitable move for all involved.
Leigh boss Adrian Lam spoke to the press this week to preview the club’s trip to Catalans Dragons, and it was there that he was asked by Serious About Rugby League how that switch came about, and what the gaffer wants to see from him in his performance on Saturday.
Lam said: “I respect Ben and he’s done a great job for us in his time that he’s been here.
“But I feel that we do have three reasonably good nines there. Ben’s been playing a little bit of half for us, but I need him to go out and play big minutes because he hasn’t been playing much time here.
“That was the communication and I want him to play well [at] Bradford and play big minutes. That’s the focus for him, and I think that’ll get him exactly where he needs to be.”
McNamara has been rotating between the halves and the hooker position for Leigh this season, so there is questions over where Bulls will utilise him this week.
With Andy Ackers back for Kurt Haggerty’s side, that suggests he could be playing in the halves alongside Chris Atkin, but Lam isn’t 100% what Haggerty and his side want to do with him just yet.
Regardless of where he plays though, the Leopards boss is hoping to see a solid showing from McNamara if he wants to play extended minutes in the Leigh first team.
