LOVE LEIGH JUBBLY
Happy families for Lams as father and son mastermind promotion
FATHER and son team Adrian and Lachlan Lam helped Leigh secure their place in Super League – and that is where they now intend to stay.
Just hours after father and son Ivan and Nathan Cleary helped Penrith pulverise Parramatta in the NRL Grand Final win, Leigh’s duo followed suit.
This Championship finale might not have been as grandiose as the decider in Oz, but it meant just as much to head coach Lam – let go by Wigan last year – and Lachlan, who pulled the strings from half-back against Batley.
Former Queensland scrum-half Lam said: “I’m over the moon. There’s a little bit of relief as there’s always risk when you take a step back in your profession.
“But also with risk comes opportunity. If you can wind back to December last year and to be in this position now, it’s worked out perfectly.
“I’m really proud of all the players and the town. We’ll need these great fans again next year. It’s been said all year but I can finally say it now – we’re in Super League. And we’re there to do more than stay up.”
Leigh went straight back down in each of their previous Super League seasons – 2005, 2017 and 2021 – but have never been as well-prepped as now. Lam has assembled a strong squad stacked with NRL and Super League talent. Some bookmakers had part-timers Batley at 10-1 with big-spending full-time Centurions having won 26 of 27 regular games, often by some distance.
Batley started strongly, sensing nerves in the home ranks when Ed Chamberlain spilled the kick-off. But they messed up themselves when Dale Morton dropped Luke Hooley’s pass for Lam to lap up the 15th minute gift, scampering over.
Krisnan Inu slotted the first of his six goals. Lam’s classy delayed pass got Joe Wardle through a gap for Inu to finish. Soon after ex-Sydney Rooster Lam ushered Wardle over as Inu made it 18-0 at the break.
Full-back Caleb Atkins dashed in from 50m just seconds into the second period. And Leigh broke clear in the next set for Joe Mellor to add another on his 250th career appearance before Nene Macdonald got in on the act.
Dale Morton’s try made sure Batley did not go home pointless but Inu got his second and Lam supplied another for Kai O’Donnell. Adam Gledhill grabbed a consolation for the Bulldogs and boss Craig Lingard said: “I’m proud of the lads.”