Leigh Leopards boss Adrian Lam has spoken on the release of prop forward Aaron Pene and explained how it’s allowed the club some freedom in the market, with up to two players being targeted.
Pene was a mid-season signing in 2024 and he’d make a major impact in that first season, playing all but one game as Leigh made it to the play-off semi-finals.
Those 15 appearances in just half a season are as many as he has made in the following season and a half, with Pene only appearing 10 times in 2025 and just five times this season, with head coach Adrian Lam admitting that was part of the reason behind his release.
“It’s always sad and disappointing when players leave the club in a situation like this,” Lam said when addressing the media on Tuesday.
“I remember his very first game for us was against Leeds at Leeds and he was unbelievably brilliant, and we haven’t been able, from that moment, really to keep him on the field for long periods of time.
“With everything that’s been going on, we feel that the timing of that was right now for Aaron to leave, and he was on the same page. He understood the situation. We’ve had clear communications and that’s all done now.”
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Leigh Leopards set for big fortnight to make fresh signings
Pene’s exit affords Leigh an opening on their overseas quota and it’s been reported that man could be Kai O’Donnell, though Lam explained that the Leopards won’t be signing their former player this week or next.
However, if they do want to add O’Donnell, or another body for that matter, they’ll have to act fast as the Super League transfer deadline is looming, believed to be the 21st of August.
Lam explained: “Ideally, that (Pene’s exit) frees us up for a spot, potentially to bring someone in between now and the cut-off time at the end of August. I think it’s the 23rd of August. You’ve got roughly three weeks, or even less than that now, to get that sorted.
“It gives us the opportunity and the window to potentially do that. We’ve had that many injuries throughout the whole season that there’s a window now to probably expand the squad before we go on to that last part.”
“A bit of work to do” – Lam on possible signings
Lam would also note that it may not just be one signing that they make, stating: “There’s an opportunity to maybe bring one or two players in from an outside perspective, but we’ve just got to balance up what that looks like with the timeline.
“There’s a bit of work still to do, but we’re certainly on that path.”
With the suggestion that more than just a like for like forward recruit could be made, Lam was asked about what other positions may be targeted but he kept his cards close to his chest.
The Leopards boss said: “We’re going to sit down probably over the next week and really knock out what we desperately need to make us take that next step forward.
“Obviously I’ve got a squad here. I think there was 10 players that we couldn’t select last week so that doesn’t help, but we need to start moving in one direction or the other, and we’ll get that sorted within the next week.”
