2024 Super League Season Preview: Leigh Leopards

Derek Beaumont’s Leigh Leopards look for more success after an excellent return to the top flight.

Coach

Adrian Lam

Key Player

John Asiata

2023 Results

League – 5^th (32points)

Play-Offs – First Round

Challenge Cup – Winners

Arrivals

Lewis Baxter, Louis Brogan, Jack Darbyshire, Ben McNamara, Matt Moylan, Dan Norman, Kavan Rothwell, Owen Trout

Departures

Oliver Gildart, Joe Mellor, Ben Reynolds, Ava Seumanufagai, Joe Wardle

In 2023 the newly branded Leopards surpassed almost everyone’s expectations. In rugby league, it’s usually a tall order for newly promoted clubs to survive their first year in Super League. However, after regularly competing with the division’s top sides in the first few months, it was clear they weren’t in a relegation battle, but a play-off one.

After sealing their promotion, Leigh bulked up their squad with ambitious new signings that seemed to gel almost immediately. After a strong start they were even being touted for a title fight. Although their form may have dipped in the latter stages of the season, they came away with a fifth placed finish, and more than doubled their tally of all time Super League victories.

To add to that would’ve been a dream for their fans, and although it wasn’t meant to be in the play-offs, the Leopards’ faithful were rewarded with the historic Challenge Cup victory in August for just the third time in the clubs history. A 52 year wait for a major trophy was ended, and a new challenger in Super League was born.

Ahead of the new season, the Leopards have once again been active in the transfer market, with a whole host of new additions. Throughout a mixture of rising stars and experienced heads, the name that stands out is that of Matt Moylan.

Signed from Cronulla Sharks in the NRL, the Aussie halfback will partner Lachlan Lam in what is now a very exciting combination at six and seven. Throw in the names of John Asiata and Edwin Ipape and you have an excellent spine.

Loose Forward Asiata will be vital to a play-off challenge this season, his strong balls carries combined with his defensive numbers and attacking link up play make an almost perfect 13. He was the main man in 2023, and barring any injuries will dominate the forward line in 2024.

In the last few months their departures included the likes of Ben Reynolds, and Ava Seumanufagai, but it would seem as though all players that exited were replaced, if not improved upon. On paper, their squad only looks stronger, which is a scary thought to the clubs that will also be bidding for a play-off spot come September.

As for their early fixtures, the first couple of months look like a tall order, with trips to St Helens, Hull FC, local rivals Salford and Warrington in their first seven games. That’s before we mention having to host Leeds, Wigan and Catalan in that same time period.

However, their season gets underway on Friday night, when they host Huddersfield Giants in a game that coach Adrian Lam will surely be targeting as an early chance to get off the mark.

Replicating if not improving upon last year will be the target for Leigh in 2024, and in theory, any position from sixth and above would meet those goals and be a success. Club owner Beaumont will continue to look to drive the club forward, and nobody is ruling out even more success in 2024.

 

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