Lam previews Leeds
- Head Coach Adrian Lam looks ahead to Saturday’s Coral Challenge Cup Semi Final vs Leeds.
- Lam: “We’ve got an opportunity to add to the legacy that’s already here at the Club.”
- Leeds Rhinos vs Wigan Warriors, Saturday 3rd October, Totally Wicked Stadium, K.O. 2:30pm.
Adrian Lam believes his side have a chance to add to the Club’s great history by winning this weekend in the Coral Challenge Cup Semi Final against Leeds Rhinos.
The Cherry and Whites have won more Challenge Cups than any other side in the competition’s history (19), and have a chance of making this year’s final this Saturday when they take on Richard Agar’s men.
Speaking to the media ahead of the crucial Semi Final via Zoom link on Wednesday, Lam discussed the importance of the competition to the Club.
“We’ve spoken about the past and that both the Cup and Wigan are etched in history together.
“To have only won it three times in the Super League era is incredible, having won it 19 times in total.”
Despite Wigan’s historic success in the Challenge Cup, there are only a handful of players in the current squad who have tasted victory in the competition.
On his current squad and the Cup, Lam said: “We are aware of recent history and there’s a lot of players here who haven’t been a part of a winning team, just a couple who have.”
“We’ve got an opportunity to add to the legacy that’s already here at the Club.”
The Papua New Guinean achieved Challenge Cup glory in his playing days, playing a pivotal role in the 2004 victory over St Helens at Murrayfield.
On his experiences and never playing at Wembley in a final, he said: “It was one of the competitions I looked up to as a boy in Australia and one I always wanted to be a part of it as a player.
“That was the reason I signed with Wigan as a player initially. Now I’m in the coaching position we’ve got another chance at it.”
However, Leeds too will be looking for that Final place on Saturday when the two sides meet at St Helens’ Totally Wicked Stadium.
On the opposition, the boss said: “They are an aggressive side and they’ve got some great individuals who, if you allow them to play, can beat teams by big scores.
“We feel that we’ve trained well and prepared well. There’s some senior players added to the squad who will certainly give us a lift.”
Lam also provided a few updates on injuries in the squad, including Jack Wells who left the field of play on Tuesday night against St Helens with a knee issue.
“The medical team are saying it’s a possible MCL (medial cruciate ligament) or cartilage tear, also a kneecap dislocation.
“If it is a dislocation it could be up to three months. But we don’t know for sure until the scans come back.”
He also suggested that prop-forwards Tony Clubb and George Burgess could return to action from their respective neck and hip injuries within two weeks.
Additionally, Lam suggested that new singing Brad Singleton could be available for selection in one-to-two weeks’ time.
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