Super League coach makes brutally honest statement about star man’s future at club

Transfers can be transformative and with announcements at like Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves, Hull KR and Hull FC.

Leeds have announced the signing of Mickael Goudemand from Catalans Dragons and the French side have also lost Tiaki Chan to Wigan Warriors in 2024. The Warriors could also bring in Adam Keighran from the South of France.

They have drafted in Kruise Keeming and Sam Walters as well. As for Warrington they have brought in Lachlan Fitzgibbon for the 2024 season from Newcastle Knights beating the likes of Leeds and other clubs to the signing.

Meanwhile, at Hull KR we have seen them make an immediate signing with Brad Schneider whilst on the other side of the city Hull FC have allowed Josh Griffin to join Wakefield Trinity.

But for some clubs they are riding high right now because of the business they did in the past namely the Leigh Leopards who signed the likes of Zak Hardaker, Ricky Leutele and Rob Mulhern.

However, these should not distract from the business Leigh, as the Centurions, did so that the Leopards could leap into Super League.

Part of this came with some sizeable signings like Blake Ferguson, Josh Charnley and Lachlan Lam but there were also chances taken on players namely Edwin Ipape.

An unknown hooker who joined the then Centurions for 2022 and was an instant hit.

He was the Ray French Award winner as Man of the Match as Leigh beat Featherstone at the Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium in the 1895 Cup Final and was their danger man all season as they lost one league game all season, finished top and earned promotion with a Grand Final win over Batley.

He was also crowned Championship Player of the Year beating out teammate John Asiata.

All of this came whilst starting most games off the bench which made it all even more impressive.

However, now the Leopards could face a difficult battle to keep the hooker with St George Illawarra Dragons interested in bringing him to the NRL according to the Daily Telegraph as Shane Flanagan begins his rebuild.

This comes Terry O’Connor said the hooker is “happy and settled in Leigh” on Sky Sports last week.

Now Leigh Head Coach Adrian Lam has shut down these rumours.

“Edwin Ipape is contracted to our club for the next two years. He’s not going anywhere, so it’s a pretty simple one for our club, me as coach and Edwin as player.”