Leigh Leopards host St Helens on Friday night knowing a win secures them a play-off spot and Adrian Lam has provided a squad fitness update.
It’s been an improbable second-half-of-the-season surge from Leigh who had won nine of their last ten games heading into their Round 26 clash with Hull KR.
The Robins showed exactly why they’re among the favourites to lift silverware as they put in a clinical display and won 24-0 but results elsewhere have meant that Leigh are still in control of their own fate.
Adrian Lam’s side know that a win secures them a top-six spot, whilst they could sneak in with a loss if Leeds and Catalans both fail to win.
After winning just one of their opening seven fixtures, it’s been a must-win on plenty of occasions for Leigh Leopards but Lam has explained that this is the culmination of that with Friday’s clash being the ultimate ‘must-win’ game.
Speaking ahead of the game, he explained: “We’ve been tip-toeing on the line for months now, so it’s no different this week. There is a lot more pressure on obviously that we need to win, it’s a must-win.
“Nothing will change this week, I guess just the intensity will step up and it will be a big game feel about it.”
Leigh Leopards star ‘more than likely’ to start
Credit: Imago Images
One thing that will Adrian Lam and Leigh Leopards in their pursuit of a 15th Super League win of the season and that all-important play-off spot would be the return of hooker Edwin Ipape.
The Papua New Guinean was a notable absentee against Hull KR but it seems that he has recovered from a shoulder injury with Lam even confirming that the former Dream Team member could have played against the Robins.
“I think Edwin again should be alright to play, we’ll give him up to the captain’s run to make that decision, but he’ll be good to play and if he does play he’ll more than likely start.
“Who else we bring out of that 21 will be a decision that’s made again at the very last minute but it’s a home game for us, it’s a Friday night and we want to respond from the performance of disappointment last week. The whole season is on the line for us.”
Pushed further on Ipape, he confirmed: “He probably could have played last week, but we made a calculated decision that it was best to rehab it for another week. If he plays, he’ll be in a really comfortable position, it’ll be 100% correct and right.”
The Leigh Leopards boss also refused to confirm if there would be a position change in the spine after Matt Moylan struggled under the high ball last week against Hull KR.
“That’s for me to know and for you to find out,” was Lam’s coy response when asked.
“Obviously it wasn’t Matt’s best game, I think he’d be the first to admit that, but he’s been awesome under the high ball all year, it was just a one off game for us.
“I think moving forward, we’ll address that this week and make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
