Leigh Leopards head coach Adrian Lam has championed one of his star players for a shot in the England Ashes squad at the end of the season, labelling them as one of the best in Super League.
Owen Trout scored the game-winning try on Friday night in Leigh’s ‘smash and grab’ style win against Warrington Wolves with the Leopards overturning a 14-2 deficit at 65 minutes to win 20-16.
It’s the sort of win that proves Leigh Leopards to be genuine contenders with Adrian Lam’s side outplayed for the large majority of the game but finding a way to secure the two points, with their final five to ten minutes played at an incredible intensity.
That was something Lam noted when he spoke to Sky Sports post-match, even going as far as to suggest it’s the sort of win that can potentially define where his side will finish, particularly given the Leopards are now just one point behind Wigan and an all-important home play-off semi-final.
Among the payers that he praised was two-try star Umyla Hanley with the centre having established himself as one of the best in Super League this season, something Lam attributed to his intense pre-season.
Lam explained: “He’s just a competitor and you can see that in his pre-season. I use it as an example all the time because he wants to win everything and even with the two defenders on him there for that second-to-last try, he certainly got us the try that we needed. He’s an inspiration for everyone.”
Leigh Leopards star backed for England start
Whilst Hanley’s two tries got the Leopards within touching distance, it was Owen Trout’s 78th minute crashover that secured the win and saw the Leigh Sports Village erupt with noise.
Trout is one of just three Leigh players to play in every Super League game this season with Lachlan Lam and Isaac Liu the other two, and it’s fair to argue that the England forward is just as influential.
Such performances have earned him a call-up to Shaun Wane’s extended squad that was named earlier in the year and Adrian Lam sees no reason why Trout shouldn’t be playing for England in the Ashes.
Asked about that prospect, Lam said: “I think he’ll be in the mix there and I don’t want to bring up anything but I think he’s one of the best front rowers or back rowers in the competition, and that’s his versatility at the moment.
“When Robbie (Mulhern) comes back, Owen will probably start in the back row for us so I think a player that has the ability to play front or second row probably should be in that 17 for GB at the end of the year.”
Trout was playing his 100th game of Super League last night and Lam praised the forward for how much he’s developed since arriving from Huddersfield since before the 2023 season.
“I’m really proud of him,” Lam declared, adding: “He came to us on the back of a knee reconstruction and he’s really built his game. He’s surrounded by some really senior players that have helped him a lot in his game and he’s also now got leadership coming out of him, so I’m proud of him.”
‘LOOK AT THESE SCENES’ 😳
Owen Trout might have just nicked the win for Leigh in dramatic fashion 👀 pic.twitter.com/G6xANCT15q
— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) August 1, 2025
