Fresh Leigh Leopards injury news as star set for six weeks out but two to return

Leigh Leopards head coach Adrian Lam has confirmed some fresh injury news with one star set for four to six weeks on the sidelines.

The Leopards have done it tough with injuries this season, particularly in their outside backs where the likes of Darnell McIntosh and Josh Charnley have missed the majority of the season.

McIntosh is back in the fray and Charnley could return this week, however, a new injury has been confirmed which is set to greatly impact the team.

Adrian Lam’s side will take on Warrington Wolves this weekend in Super League’s Rivals Round with the foes meeting again in early May in the Challenge Cup when they bid for a place at Wembley.

Unfortunately for the Leopards, it seems that one of their star performers of the season so far will miss out on that Challenge Cup semi-final as Adrian Lam revealed all the injury news at Leigh.

Leigh Leopards standout dealt major injury blow

Having been asked about the fact Warrington Wolves will be without George Williams, who is set to undergo surgery and face up to 10 weeks out, Lam noted Leigh’s own injury issues and confirmed that Tesi Niu is the latest man on the treatment bench.

“It doesn’t really matter,” Lam responded when asked about Williams.

“Ratchford will come into that position or someone else like, I think, Leyland, maybe the other option for them. Whoever it is that comes in there will do a similar job as they always have done.

“We’ve got Tesi Niu who’s injured for us now that could be out for four to six weeks. Umyla Hanley is out for four to six weeks so, we’ve got our own concerns. We’ve got to make sure that my energy is put in towards making sure the 17 that pulled the jersey on this week for us can do a job.”

Lam went on to reavel that Niu picked up a bicep tear late in the game against Castleford Tigers, a match which he played in despite being ill throughout the week.

On his star centre’s injury, Lam said: “It’s a tear in his bicep. Not ideal, but again, very similar to what Ethan O’Neill had two weeks ago. So it’s one of those ones where he’ll still be able to keep his load with his running, but he certainly can’t get that in position to defend. That’s long term like with Umyla Henley.

“Tesi was ill through the whole week, really, and nearly pulled out of the game at Castleford. Obviously, he played and did a really good job for us, and he’s been getting better, and one of our outstanding players.

“Towards the end there, when I was about to replace him with 15 minutes to go. He’s just got that slight injury there. So not ideal for us, but like I said, we’ll just power on.”

Josh Charnley in line for return from injury

There was also an update on Ethan O’Neill who could be back in contention, as could Josh Charnley with his return very timely if he passes fit.

The Leigh Leopards boss said: “We’re going to give Ethan right up till kick-off to be right. He should be right. He’s just got to go through a little bit of contact, so we’re pretty confident with that.

“I think Josh Charnley is (back) but again we’re going to give him up to kick-off to play. That would be ideal if he’ll be right because it’ll just be seamless moving to that left-hand side there with Bailey Hodgson who will probably go to left-centre, but we’ll wait and see how that pans out.”

Despite the injuries, Lam assessed his side’s start to the season and spoke on the contrast to 2204 when they picked up just two points at this same stage.

“I feel like we’re in a really good place,” he revealed, adding: “There are a couple of niggly injuries for this week and in the short term moving forward, which isn’t ideal for us, but we’ll power on as we’ve always done.

“I also understand that you know we’re not playing the same levels of rugby in attack as we were last year, but the team that we had last year was a team built off three years. So this one’s going to take a little bit of time.”

🐆 𝗔 𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗬 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗟𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦… pic.twitter.com/YwKcSriK4r

— Leigh Leopards (@LeighLeopardsRL) April 15, 2025