As the Betfred Super League season heads into an important stage of the season, Leeds Rhinos host Leigh Leopards at AMT Headingley on Friday night as both sides look to close in on the top six, kick off 8pm.

As matchday approaches, find out more about Adrian Lam's Leigh side here:

Overview

Name: Leigh Leopards

Founded: 1878

Seasons in Super League: Five

Head Coach: Adrian Lam

Club Captain: John Asiata 

Last three season finishes: 2023 = 5th, 2022 = 1st (Championship Winners), 2021 = 12th

Best SL finish: Fifth

Grand Final appearances: None

Most career appearances: Albert Worrall (503)

Most career tries: Mick Martyn (189)

Most career points: John Woods (2492)

So far in 2024...

After trophy success and a big first season back in the Betfred Super League, Leigh Leopards looked to build  in 2024.

Their return to the top tier, masterminded by Adrian Lam, saw the club take the league by storm. Between rounds nine and 19, the Leopards only lost once as they reached second place at their peak; Josh Charnley led the way with 15 tries on his way to finishing the season with 26. The winger enters his testimonial year this year, having had try-scoring impacts at Wigan and Warrington over the course of his career.

With a largely unchanged squad from last season, Matt Moylan was the only big arrival to join Lachlan Lam in the Leopards' spine. The club also invested in its younger talent, capturing Huddersfield's Owen Trout, Hull's Ben McNamara, Warrington's Jack Darbyshire and Wigan's Kevan Rothwell to bolster their squad options. 

Starting the season with a defeat to Huddersfield on a wet night at home, the Leopards gained an extra week on the training ground the following week as their game against Wigan was postponed in place of the World Club Challenge. Lam's side kept the contests close against St Helens and Leeds, but couldn't get the result in 12-4 and 22-16 defeats, before they picked up a resounding win over Hull FC on the road.

Salford and Wigan also took league points off the Leopards before they started to click at the end of April. A tight clash with Warrington was separated by two points at the Halliwell Jones, and then they shocked Catalans in the first of two wins over the Dragons that didn't see Steve McNamara's side score a point. A 28-all thrilling draw against Castleford came before wins over Huddersfield and Salford, and despite Hull KR scoring two tries in a 12-0 defeat at the start of June, Lam's side bounced back to beat Catalans last time out.

The second half of the season sees them look up the league table as Leigh take on the Rhinos, derby rivals Wigan, Huddersfield, London and St Helens in June and July.  

Squad

Ones to Watch

Lachlan Lam

A key catalyst in Leigh's trophy success last season, Lachlan Lam's retention for 2024 and 2025 was good news to the ears of Leopards fans after the half back was touted for move back to the NRL during the off-season. Alongside Gareth O'Brien, the pair orchestrated the club's best season to date and capped the year off with a Challenge Cup Final win over Hull KR, as well as a Play Off finish. Lam also picked up individual honours across the year, including the club's player of the year.

So far in 2024, the half back has played 12 out of 14 Super League games and has two tries and four try assists in his last five games. His partnership with Matt Moylan looks to be building too as he has lined up 14 times alongside each other in all competitions.

Umyla Hanley

One of the players having their best season in a Leigh shirt is winger Umyla Hanley. Although Josh Charnley continues to steal the headlines as the side's top try scorer this season, Hanley has developed into a threat on the opposite side of the field with eight tries in Super League. Four of them came in the former Wigan player's first three games of the season against Leeds, Hull FC and Salford, plus he has the most clean breaks out of Leigh's team this year.

Kai O'Donnell

In his final season before moving back to the NRL with North Queensland Cowboys, Kai O'Donnell is leaving a mark on the Leigh side particularly on the defensive front.

The back rower has the most tackles by a Leopard this season and is one of the side's most consistent performers with and without the ball in hand.

Fixtures

Round Fifteen - Vs Leeds Rhinos (AMT Headingley, KO 8pm)

Round Sixteen - Vs Wigan Warriors (DW Stadium, KO 8pm)

Round Seventeen - Vs Huddersfield Giants (Leigh Sports Village, KO 3pm)

Round Eighteen - Vs London Broncos (Leigh Sports Village, KO 8.05pm)

Round Nineteen - Vs St Helens (Leigh Sports Village, KO 8pm)

Stats Performers

Tries: Josh Charnley (9 tries)

Try Assists: Matt Moylan (11 try assist)

Carries: Josh Charnley (215 carries)

Metres: Josh Charnley (1,741 metres)

Tackles: Kai O'Donnell (417 tackles)

Tackle Breaks: Ricky Leutele (48 breaks)

Clean Breaks: Umyla Hanley (11 breaks)

Last Super League match

More information

Leeds Rhinos MND Awareness game against Leigh Leopards, AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium is set for an emotional night with the stadium heading for a capacity crowd. 

The match will mark the club’s celebration of the life of legendary player Rob Burrow CBE, who passed away on 2nd June 2024, and there are fewer than 50 seats left available around the stadium and less than 500 places available in the South Stand terrace. Places are still available in the AMT East terrace and Western terrace. 

Fans are being urged to get down early to AMT Headingley with the club’s academy side playing Huddersfield Giants at 5.15pm and Sky Sports building up to the game both on screen and in the stadium from 7pm. Tickets for this game are available to purchase now at tickets.therhinos.co.uk.