Three Leigh Leopards players who could be surprise packages in 2025

Ahead of the 2025 season, we’ve looked at three Leigh Leopards players who could be surprise packages in Super League.

Leigh followed up their impressive 2023 campaign with a gritty 2024 that saw them make the play-offs against all odds. Adrian Lam’s side suffered terribly with injuries but turned it on in the second half of the season to make the top six.

Looking ahead to 2025 and they have lost several key members of that squad with the likes of Matt Moylan (retirement), Josh Asiata, Zak Hardaker, Ollie Holmes, and Ed Chamberlain (all Hull FC) leaving.

Stars such as Kai O’Donnell and Tom Amone have also returned Down Under to the NRL which has forced the Leopards into heavy recruitment – signing 10 players ahead of the new campaign.

In what could be a tough transitional year, we’ve picked out three players who could be surprise packages by either taking the competition by storm or simply playing a larger role than most would anticipate.

Three Leigh Leopards players who could surprise Super League in 2025

David Armstrong

Armstrong is perhaps the most obvious player to list in the sense that he has come with huge raps from owner Derek Beaumont who touted the full-back to rival Bevan French. That said, many fans will take that claim with a huge pinch of salt but should they?

Armstrong lit up the NRL during his five games in 2024 with the highlight being his hattrick against Gold Coast in Round 11. After moving back to the NSW Cup, he scored eight in seven to finish the season off – taking his season tally across all competitions to 18 in 17.

In a Leigh team that many expect to struggle given their huge turnover, Armstrong could be the X-factor player that wins them games that they have no real right to win. We’re expecting him to push the likes of Bevan French for the Man of Steel crown.

AJ Towse

Another of Leigh’s signings, albeit one who comes in with a lot less profile given he’s a Championship arrival as opposed to an NRL one. That’s not to diminish what Towse has done with the winger proving to be one of the very best in the second tier in recent seasons.

The 21-year-old has shone for York Knights and might be able to force his way into the starting thirteen at Leigh quicker than perhaps expected. The right winger spot was held by Darnell McIntosh in 2024 after his mid-season switch but Towse could certainly knock the ex-Hull FC man off his perch.

Frankie Halton

Halton made the move to Leigh midway through the 2023 season but he really started to find his form as a Leopards player late in 2024. The second-rower will now be part of a pack that has seen plenty of turnover, making him one of the longest-serving players.

Kai O’Donnell took huge steps forward under Adrian Lam’s coaching with the NRL-bound man crediting Lam plenty. The signs are already there that Halton is following in those footsteps and more of the same in 2024 could see the former KR man ascend to be one of the best in the competition in his position.

Only Kallum Watkins and Cameron Smith made more tackles from marker than Halton in 2024 whilst the Leigh man also ranked fourth for most tackles in the competition. Aged 28, the forward could take another step forward as he enters his prime years.