Leigh Leopards

Leigh Leopards boss sends stark warning to Super League over Perth Bears

by
Sam Cook
May 10, 2025

Leigh Leopards head coach Adrian Lam reacted to the news of Perth Bears being confirmed to the NRL by sending a stark warning to Super League clubs.

The NRL officially approved the entry of Perth Bears to the competition from the 2027 season meaning they will become the 18th team in the competition with a Papua New Guinea-based side set to enter in 2028.

That will mean two more 30-man squads and two more reserves set-ups, amounting to well over 100 players entering the NRL and its feeder leagues.

Of course, plenty will come from within Australia and the PNG team is hopeful of having plenty of home-grown players as well, however, the stark reality is that Super League will be targeted and players will leave.

Perth will be able to sign players during this off-season meaning Super League players without a contract for 2027 and beyond will be seen as key targets, both English and overseas players alike.

Super League “talent pool to get stretched” warns Leigh Leopards boss

Leigh Leopards head coach Adrian Lam was asked by Serious About Rugby League about the club’s plan to prevent their players from being poached, particularly in light of the fact that Director of Rugby Chris Chester has just left.

Lam confirmed much of that would fall at his door with the aid of Neil Jukes and Derek Beaumont but he also explained that Leigh, like other Super League clubs, have a plan amidst his stark warning.

“I think every club will have to have some sort of strategy moving forward because the PNG team comes in in ’28,” he explained.

“The talent pool is going to get stretched in all different ways and I think every club will have a strategy or a plan moving forward, including ours.”

On the Leigh Leopards plan, he said: “That’s one thing that we’re pretty excited about.

“We’ve now got an academy and a reserve side that we’ve never had before. We’ve got a scholarship that’s underway.

“We’re doing things in every single area of rugby in the performance side at the club so we’re ticking all boxes there.”

With Leigh being such a hotbed for rugby league talent, the Leopards now having their own academy and the ability to bring those youngsters through is a massive boost, especially in light of the potentially shrinking player pool.