Despite breaking the all-time Super League record for tries, Leigh Leopards’ Josh Charnley has admitted that he’s still simply focused on retaining his place in the team, such is the talent at the club.
Charnley has been chasing Ryan Hall for the past couple of seasons and after the Leeds Rhinos winger failed to score on Friday night against Toulouse, the Leigh man had a shot at breaking the record and writing his name into Super League history.
By half-time, he had levelled the record but his second-half score in Leigh’s 38-12 win over Bradford Bulls cemented the record and after being confirmed as Man of the Match, the 34-year-old spoke to Sky Sports.
He admitted: “I’ve been chasing this for a few years now and it’s going to go neck and neck with me and Hally (Ryan Hall) until the end of the year and we’ll see what happens but yeah, I’m very grateful of the team today and the teams that I’ve been playing for over the years to put me in this limelight.”
The humble Charnley added: “I’m very grateful of what’s happened today, the players that I played with and now I need to get back in and get stitched up because my knee’s burning. I’ll be back next week.”
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Josh Charnley reacts after record-breaking game
That knee issue that he noted saw him leave the field injured with the initial fears being that he had done something serious, however, he was quick to clarify post-match.
“I’ve got a gash across my kneecap, I think it’s just from a boot. I’ve just taped it up for the time being because I wanted to do this interview so they’re going to stitch me up so as soon as I get back I’ll be sweet.”
Charnley will therefore hopefully be fit for next week’s big clash away to Hull KR, where Leigh will look for their seventh win in eight as they try to close in on the play-offs and the winger admitted that it’s becoming hard for head coach Adrian Lam to pick a team.
He said: “I think that’s six from seven wins now so we’re slowly getting there. Umyla and Tesi just missed out on fitness test today so we’re slowly getting back to full strength. We’ll see what happens and it’s going to be a head ache for Lammy pick a team.”
On his own ability to still perform aged 34, he said: “I do all the little things away from the sports, I’m very professional so I’ve got to try and keep on top because as I said there’s a lot of young lads coming through.
“I want to keep playing week in week out and I want to cause a headache for Lammy to keep me in the team.”
Charnley also paid tribute to half-back Adam Cook, who kicked seven goals from seven and set up two of the winger’s tries in another very strong performance from the Australian.
On Cook, he said: “He’s slowly getting used to the system that we’re doing at Leigh. It’s going to take time for a young lad coming over with a young family coming over and experiencing life over in the UK.
“Him and Lachie, the combinations are working. Him and Jakey (Jacob Alick-Wiencke) are getting the relationship really well so we’re a threat. We’re a big threat so as soon as we get more reps together and we’ll start clicking and getting performances.”
A special day for Josh Charnley in a DOMINANT Leigh Leopards win 🔥🙌 pic.twitter.com/w4hWhC8IK1
— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) June 14, 2026
