Papua New Guinea and Leigh half-back Lachlan Lam ‘has got everything’ in his locker, according to Salford coach Paul Rowley.
Salford boss Rowley was complimentary of Lam and Leigh in his press conference ahead of their trip to the Leigh Sports Village in Rivals Round on Saturday.
The Leopards have made an impressive start to life back in Super League, winning three from seven games, with Lam being an ever-present.
Lam’s club and international team-mate Edwin Ipape was the bookmakers favourite for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award in the off-season, but Rowley thinks Lam is a ‘more realistic threat’ for that.
When asked what he made of Leigh’s start to the season, Rowley said: “I don’t think anyone is surprised to be honest. I’m yet to hear anybody who has said anything other than they’ll go well.
“Everyone keeps saying that (they’ve surprised some) but show me the guy that said they weren’t going to go well… It doesn’t take a rugby league guru to look through their squad list and say they’ve got a lot of quality players in there, international quality players.
“They were tipped to get the Man of Steel in (Edwin) Ipape, they’ve got Lam there who is probably more of a realistic threat for that so they are exactly as we expected, a really tough outfit, well-coached and confident as well.”
Lachlan Lam a real star
Lam has earned two Man of Steel points so far this season, with Leopards captain John Asiata on four.
Rowley believes his Salford side need to be at their best if they are to overcome a strong Leigh side this weekend for the second time in as many months.
He said: “They play out from the middles, so Asiata is a big conduit between middles and edges for them so a lot of ball goes through them.
“I think he’s in the top seven for line engagements so that is fantastic for a forward. He is a real ball player for them and is really important so I think they are good and they play on the back of that.
“In Lachlan Lam I think they’ve got a real star who is fast, brave and he’s got everything really.
“They are a good team. If you look across the board, (Ricky) Leutele a Grand Final winner, (Josh) Charnley, (Zak) Hardaker… Back to the original question about surprising people, you don’t know your rugby if you are looking at that squad list and think they are a surprise package – not a chance.
“They are a good team and always were a good team, there’s no dramas there, especially at home, it’s a really tough place to go.”
Best Leigh team of the modern era?
The Leopards have enjoyed an impressive recruitment drive ahead of their return to the top flight. They’ve already won more games than they did in 2021 when they suffered relegation.
Rowley added: “The best prepared Leigh side or any side coming up from the division below, this has been the best prepared, more strategically planned and well-recruited side so they’ve done a great job and they’ve got a team thats here to stay.”
Salford will make the short trip to Leigh in Rivals Round on Saturday, live on Sky Sports from 2:30pm.
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