A first Challenge Cup final in 52 years means a first trip to Wembley for many a father and son. But for one dad and boy wearing Leigh’s colours, Saturday is much more than just a family day out.
As the club’s respective head coach and star player, Adrian Lam and his son Lachlan will carry the Leopards’ hopes against Hull KR. Together they have already helped Leigh gain promotion to the Championship and climb to third in the Super League standings. Now they have the chance to secure the club’s first Challenge Cup trophy since 1971.
“We understand how big this is for the club and the city,” said Lam Jr. against Mail Sports. “Everyone you see in town is buzzing with it. They want to tell you how proud they are of you. It means a lot.
“My dad has won the Challenge Cup as a player in the past, but it will be very special to go to Wembley and win it together.”
His father’s previous Challenge Cup success came with Wigan in 2002 when he scored a drop goal in a 21-12 win over St Helens in the final at Murrayfield. Lam watched his old man from the stands like a four-year-old fan that day, not that he really remembers.
Adrian Lam led Leigh Leopards to an unlikely Challenge Cup final, having won the trophy as a player with Wigan in 2002
Lachlan Lam has been a key player for Leigh after taking over from Sydney Roosters last year
But he does remember that his father coached him from the age of six at the famous Sydney Junior Club, Clovelly Crocodiles, after his family returned to Australia. And that’s why he had no doubt that he would be in charge again when he got the chance to join Sydney Roosters’ then second-tier Leigh last year.
“When I came back to Australia, I was coached by him all the time, until I was 17,” the halfback explains. “Even when I went into the Roosters junior system, he still had a lot to do with me – he came over and talked to me about my game.
“So when you come here, it’s good to rekindle that. I know how he coaches and I like the way he coaches and how he takes care of me. It’s not strange to me at all.’
Nor the stick he gets from teammates for being the coach’s son, which is why he knows better than to call him ‘daddy’ in the locker room.
“It’s kind of weird to the guys hearing that and you don’t want to give them ammunition, mate, because they’re ruthless,” the 25-year-old laughs. “I do my best to just get his attention so I don’t have to call him anything or they’ll make funny jokes.
“I get an incredible amount of cane. When we do drills during training and my team gets a call, I get all kinds of crap. These guys are ruthless about it, but it’s funny, I enjoy it.’
While trying to minimize his mickey taking, Lam has also managed to never get into a fight with his father, for whom he has the ultimate respect as a coach.
“Anything he really needs to tell me that is difficult, he will tell me in private,” explains the Sydney-born Papua New Guinea international. “He’s a very smart and technical coach, but his best asset is getting the guys to play for each other. He understands the importance of friendship and loves that we do things together and are a team.”
As far as the father-son bond is concerned, that also happens outside the rugby environment. “We spend most of our time together on the golf course,” says Lam. ‘And I’m definitely better than him – if he’s told you anything else, it’s a lie!
“We don’t talk about rugby on the court. I only play golf to get away from rugby. It’s important to separate the two and just enjoy it.”
Lam is certainly enjoying himself at Leigh which is why he has just signed a new two-year deal despite interest from other clubs in Super League and back in the NRL.
“I love it at Leigh,” said Lam, who has 20 try assists in Super League this season. “I like the guys and the environment and the coaching staff, so I thought, ‘Why not extend?’.”
Lachlan Lam has registered 20 assists for Super League newcomer Leigh this season
Adrian Lam enjoyed success as a player and as a coach with Wigan Warriors
There’s clearly a lot to like at Leigh at the moment following their remarkable rise under their colorful chairman Derek Beaumont, who controversially changed their name from Centurions to Leopards last year but turned them into the most successful promoted team in the history of the Super League.
Did Lam envision such success when he signed last July? “I didn’t sign up to lose,” he replies in a flash. “I saw big things happen at the club and I trusted my dad and what he did with the boys. I signed up not only to come and stay, but also to compete.’
So how far can Leigh go? Winning the Challenge Cup for the third time in their history would be a good start, but a first top title in 42 years is also on the line given their extraordinary run in the Super League so far this season.
‘We believe we can do extraordinary things,’ adds Lam. We work hard and great things come out of it. Special times are coming.’