2023 Season Review: Leigh Leopards

Plenty thought that Leigh Leopards would be able to survive in Betfred Super League in 2023. But few, if any, believed they could lift silverware and challenge the competition's elite throughout the entire campaign.

But that's exactly what happened as Adrian Lam's side marched to Wembley - where Lachlan Lam's golden point winner sealed a classic final win over Hull KR - before securing their top six place and exceeding just about everybody's expectations.

? "Lachlan Lam is a @LeighLeopardsRL legend."

? The best bits from his 2023 Lance Todd Trophy winning performance...

? #ChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/KGfMHkakE5
— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) August 15, 2023

During a stunning run of just one defeat in 14 matches mid-season it looked like the Leopards could even win the League Leaders' Shield, and although hopes of that evaporated post Wembley, this was a campaign of unquestionable success.

And it's one that started amid criticism and no lack of external mocking when club owner Derek Beaumont decided to rebrand from Centurions to Leopards.

"It's not a whim," Beaumont insisted at the time of the announcement. "It's the result of quite a lot of research over a period of time.

"It's a re-branding of our club that creates a lot more opportunities from a commercial and retail aspect.

"You can clearly see, we're not messing about. We're not going in to make up the numbers."

That much has certainly been proven since - although the season started with two straight losses to Salford and Catalans. But even in defeat there were enough signs to suggest that Lam's side would be more than competitive.

That was backed up in wins over Hull KR and St Helens, which really announced their return to the top flight.

"This is a great moment for the club and the town," coach Lam said after the 20-12 win over Saints.

"There were nearly 8,000 in the stadium and every game feels like an event with people talking about it every week. Hopefully, crowds will keep getting bigger and bigger."

Come April that outstanding run of form was well underway, with Leigh at one point conceding a total of just three tries across four matches.

The journey to Challenge Cup glory started immediately after that, with Wakefield and York beaten before an epic semi-final effort over Saints, where the Leopards' remarkable defence in the first half laid the platform for an unforgettable 12-10 win.

It got even better at the national stadium three weeks later, as Lam junior's dramatic winner sealed a 17-16 win, creating memorable post match scenes both for the team and father and son.

"The last 12 months is an incredible story," Lam senior said after the triumph.

"Every step along this journey has been a great enjoyment.

"We've got a lot of players who have come from the outside and we've recruited in the last 18 months players who were down and out in some areas. There are stories everywhere.

"The way that the group has got together in the last 18 months and those guys for six months has been incredible, and I'm just grateful that everyone has been rewarded for their hard work today."

Four defeats from their final six league matches - including a narrow home loss in front of a sell out crowd against Wigan on final night - cost Leigh a home play-offs clash, but it couldn't come close to overshadowing what had come before.

Lam had stars right across his squad, with skipper John Asiata providing the link between hard-working forwards and talented backs and leading his side from the front.

Edwin Ipape with a burst of pace ??

Watch the action LIVE on @SkySportsRL ?#SuperLeague #SLLeeLei pic.twitter.com/MKC7uXvFhm
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) August 6, 2023

In the pack, props Tom Amone and Rob Mulhern both had immense campaigns, hooker Edwin Ipape adapted to life in the top flight with seeming ease and the likes of Matt Davis and Kai O'Donnell were unsung heroes.

Out wide the Leopards had one of the most dangerous backlines in the whole competition, with veteran wingers Tom Briscoe and especially Josh Charnley rolling back the years with prolific, industrious campaigns.

Zak Hardaker was another to recapture some of his best form, with Gareth O'Brien a constant source of creativity and bravery at the back and Lachlan Lam outstanding at scrum-half.

Lam was joined in the Betfred Super League Dream Team by Amone, Asiata, Ipape and Charnley - a clear indication of the Leopards' success.

Despite a gutsy play-off defeat at Hull KR, it all added up to a season that Leigh supporters will never forget - and one that marks them down as genuine contenders in seasons to come.

Key man

The Leopards undoubtedly had key contributors right throughout their squad, but none was more influential than skipper John Asiata.

John Asiata with the dummy ?@LeighLeopardsRL take the lead inside the opening quarter ?#SLSalLei pic.twitter.com/YNdiT5SV7g
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 16, 2023

The former North Queensland Cowboy was both a model of industry and an integral part of the side's potent attack, providing them with a ball playing middle to draw defences in while carrying the ball more than anyone else in the competition. Asiata also proved immensely popular among team-mates and on the terraces, becoming a local hero in Leigh.

Rising star

With an experienced squad in their first season back in Betfred Super League, Kai O'Donnell was one of the youngest members of the team at 24, and he enhanced his growing reputation with some excellent performances in the back row. O'Donnell even recovered from missing six matches through suspension which threatened his Challenge Cup final place, to return and play his full part at Wembley.

Season highlight

No contest. When Lachlan Lam slotted the first ever golden point drop goal in a Challenge Cup final, it signalled the arrival of Leigh Leopards as genuine contenders for the sport's biggest prizes. It also marked the culmination of a remarkable journey for coach Adrian Lam and his side from the Betfred Championship, and provided the sport with a compelling storyline that played out on terrestrial television on the BBC.

Key stats

Stats from regular Betfred Super League season only

Top try scorer

Josh Charnley (26)

Top tackler

Robbie Mulhern (787)

Most metres

Tom Amone (3467)

Most assists

Gareth O'Brien (22)