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2024 Season Review: Leigh Leopards

12 Nov 2024

Leigh Leopards cemented their place among the competition’s big guns with a stirring mid-season recovery.

When the Leopards sat with just one win after the opening eight rounds of Betfred Super League, their hopes of returning to the Play-Offs looked a long shot at best.

Missing key players including influential skipper John Asiata, Adrian Lam’s side were some way off the top six pace. Fast forward five months and the Leopards were securing their Play-Offs place with an accomplished home win over St Helens in front of a bumper crowd, before travelling to Salford and knocking the Red Devils out of the race for Old Trafford.

One of the tries of the season? ?

The second half is underway shortly - watch LIVE on Sky Sports and SuperLeague+ ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/CCDQlVxRZJ
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 26, 2024

Leigh’s rollercoaster 2024 came to an end a week later at local rivals Wigan, but the season has undoubtedly reinforced the fact that the club can compete with the best in the competition.

Those injuries and the fact that the Leopards played each of the rest of the top five within that opening run of eight matches were mitigating factors to their start, but nonetheless a Play-Offs place looked a distant dream.

It was a rousing 30-2 home win over Catalans that stirred Adrian Lam’s side and the club’s growing support, and from mid-July the Leopards lost just once in 10 matches, at Wigan.

That run coincided directly with the return of Asiata, illustrating his influence on the side, while hooker Edwin Ipape also exploded into action when he came back from his own injury, peaking with a majestic individual display in the Play-Offs win at Salford.

Unbelievable impact in defence and attack ?

The best of Edwin Ipape's Eliminator performance for @LeighLeopardsRL ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/gsD4N1b1iR
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 28, 2024

Tom Amone and Robbie Mulhern again provided twin pillars in the front row, while Kai O’Donnell was a model of consistency behind them.

Winger Josh Charnley moved to second in the all-time Super League top try scorers list with another 18, with Umyla Hanley, Ricky Leutele and O’Donnell also reaching double figures.

Lachlan Lam, Gareth O’Brien and Matt Moylan guided the side around superbly while the likes of Matt Davis and Frankie Halton were genuine unsung heroes.

These two ?

Moylan? Lam ? back to Moylan ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/mQ9YbtlU02
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) May 4, 2024

The Leopards were unable to beat the top two of Wigan and Hull KR across a total of seven matches, including a Betfred Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat against the latter.

That perhaps illustrated the next step that the club needs to take in its remarkable development to go even further towards a first top flight title since 1982.

But overall the 2024 campaign was undoubtedly another step in the right direction, with the Leopards’ home crowds and match day experience another real positive for the club.

“The way we have stuck together through a really tough time has been monumental,” coach Lam reflected.

“Three years ago we won everything in the Championship. Two years ago we won the Challenge Cup and finished fifth and this year finishing fourth is a step in the right direction.

“We are heading in the right direction so we’ve got to be positive about this year and I think it is an incredible time for the town that they’ve had a team to support and cheer about.”

Key Man

Kai O’Donnell was an ever present in the league with over 800 tackles and almost 2,500 metres with the ball – an all-rounded excellent campaign.

Rising Star

The versatile outside back in Umyla Hanley had a break-out season in Betfred Super League following his move from Wigan and is still on 22 with his best years ahead of him.

Season Highlight

A near full house saw the Leopards complete their season turnaround and book a Play-Offs place with a superb 18-12 home win over St Helens in the final round of the campaign.