Leigh Leopards star Lachlan Lam and his father and coach Adrian have discussed the Papua New Guinean’s future at the club with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.
Lachlan’s deal was set to expire at the end of the 2023 campaign but a new two-year deal was secured and the player has admitted that has generally been the case during his time with the club.
Speaking to the media ahead of their Challenge Cup semi-final on Sunday against Warrington Wolves, both men fielded questions from Serious About Rugby League about Lachan’s future and the club’s recruitment and retention policies now that Director of Rugby Chris Chester has left.
After admitting that the work would fall on his desk with potentially input from Neil Jukes and Derek Beaumont, Lam revealed the club could get “more aggressive” with their squad-building.
When asked if that meant tabling a contract extension for Lachlan Lam, Adrian explained: “I think it’s a difficult time of the season to be able to negotiate that at the moment. Obviously things will probably progress after the semi and the final. If things happen prior to that, it will be it.”
Lachan Lam talks “best case” over his Leigh Leopards contract
Leigh will be hoping to return to Wembley and recreate their success of 2023 so understandably focus will be on this game at the weekend and the prospective final, and head coach Adrian wanted his star player and son to focus on that instead of any contract talk.
“The main focus for Lokie is to make sure that he plays his best rugby,” he confirmed.
“He’s just won Super League player of the month, which is great and good for Lachlan and he’s been influential in the way that we’ve played and a big part of why we’re at the top (end) of the table.
“I don’t want to distract that in any way moving forward so he needs to focus on the rugby first and foremost.”
Asked if he felt the same or if he would have rather had the deal sorted, Lachlan conceded that it is a situation he is used to, having gone through it in previous years.
He explained: “I think obviously best case (scenario) would have been for it to be sorted already I’d say because that way you don’t have to think about it.
“The whole time I’ve been at Leigh, I’ve been on sort of one-year deals and we’ve been in this position sort of every year and I’ve had to deal with it similar ways.”
Expanding on how he deals with the off-contract status, he said: “To be honest it just goes to the back (of my mind) and I don’t really think about it. Whatever happens from that happens and I just enjoy turning up with my mates every day and working hard and training in the games.
“Whenever it’s time for that other stuff is when it’s time, so I do my best to just not think about it and just focus on the game.”
The Leopards will face Warrington on Sunday afternoon at St Helens’ Totally Wicked Stadium.
