With the glorious triumph of the Challenge Cup in 2023, aspirations soared high at the LSV as the dawn of the 2024 campaign approached. Yet, misfortune struck early, as injuries besieged the squad, leaving the Leopards to nurse their wounds by the 4th of May. After battling through 11 encounters in the Super League, their record stood at a mere 3 victories, 1 draw, and 7 defeats. Adding to their woes, they faced an exit from the Challenge Cup in April, falling to Hull KR with a score of 26-14 in the quarter finals.
With unwavering resolve, Leigh's formidable players began to emerge from the shadows of injury and suspension, as Adrian Lam steadfastly maintained that the dreams of playoff glory were far from extinguished. What unfolded was nothing short of remarkable by any measure. Leigh embarked on an ascent through the ranks, showcasing a championship-winning spirit with an astonishing 10 victories in their last 12 matches, ultimately securing a playoff berth on the season's climactic final day, triumphing 18-12 against a rejuvenated Saints on a night forever etched in memory.
Alas, the Leopards met an untimely end against the Wigan Warriors in the Semi-Finals, having vanquished the Salford Red Devils merely a week prior. In stark contrast to their conquerors, Leigh had been in a relentless pursuit of playoff glory since the seventeenth round, and this fervent chase ultimately took its toll, as evidenced by their 38-nil defeat at the Brick Community Stadium. Not only was this a challenging truth to digest for the #BetheRoar brigade, but they also faced the looming specter of notable departures to ponder as the season drew to a close.
Derek Beaumont, Chris Chester, and Adrian Lam have borne the weighty responsibility of succeeding these beloved legends of the club, champions of the Challenge Cup, and extraordinary Rugby League athletes this winter. They know that the Leopards both on-and-off the field have elevated themselves over the past two years from a Championship side to one capable of winning the sports biggest prizes. Their aspirations, along with those of their supporters, are to remain seated at the table of success as the season draws to a close, year after year. With an Academy license bestowed for 2025 and beyond, Leigh is diligently crafting a constellation of future stars, including the likes of Bailey Hodgson, AJ Towse, Ryan Brown, Kavan Rothwell, and Will Brough—son of the Giants legend, Danny. Alas, the latter faced a cruel twist of fate, suffering a shoulder dislocation during the Toby King testimonial, which regrettably sidelines him for the entire season.
While the horizon glimmers with hope, the Leigh Leopards must now engage in the fierce contest at hand. Securing worthy successors for talents such as Amone, O'Donnell, and Asiata was destined to be a vital endeavour this season. So have they found the right men to make this transition from old-to-new easier?
David Armstrong is going to be as good as Bevan French!
These were the words of Leigh Leopards owner Derek Beaumont at the end of the 2024 season when he appeared on 'Super League Raw Weekly'. Why not pass an hour and watch this special episode in full by visiting:
It is only just to express our astonishment at such a declaration on that fateful night, particularly when one considers that Armstrong, a mere 23 summers old, has graced the field just five times for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL, scoring a try in each encounter—three of which were against the Gold Coast Titans in Round 11. Nevertheless, Newcastle fervently endeavoured to secure his talents for 2025, and from what we have observed, he possesses the electrifying speed to unsettle any defensive line, a quality that the Leopards sorely missed in their fullback for the 2024 season. Check out the Magic Weekend performance by David Armstrong here!
In a thrilling twist, the 23-year-old Tongan International Tesi Niu steps in to replace Ricky Leutele. Having showcased his talents with the Broncos and Dolphins under the guidance of Kevin Walters and the legendary Wayne Bennett, Niu boasts an impressive tally of 56 NRL games and 20 dazzling tries to his name. A formidable ball carrier with nimble feet and remarkable speed, Niu holds the potential to be nothing short of sensational for the Leopards. Witness the magic for yourself by clicking the graphic.
How does one fill the formidable shoes of a man like John Asiata? The answer lies in signing a three-time NRL Grand Final victor, a four-time Anzac Cup champion, and a two-time World Club Champion—none other than the esteemed Isaac Liu, a dual international for Samoa and New Zealand. Liu stands as one of the finest and most reliable locks of his era. Entering on a two-year pact, the Leopards' faithful could wish for no greater addition. Anticipation swells as we foresee Liu captivating the hearts of his new supporters with ease; boasting 272 NRL appearances, he is destined to dazzle the Super League.
Finally, Ethan O'Neill dazzled in his first outing for the Leopards against Warrington last week, promising to be one of the season's hidden gems. As for Alec Tuitavake, we shall hold our verdict until after six rounds unfold.
During this weeks 'Super League Raw Weekly' the panel gave their verdict on the Leopards chances this year.
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We needed to add more speed to our squad this season,and with the signings we have made I think we have achieved that ,looking forward to watching all the new signings this season...cmon leopards let's go 🐆🐆🐆🐆🐆🐆🐆
Leigh is gonna be the great underdog story of 25.im tipping them to finish 2nd
Derek has changed Leigh for the better in my opinion 🔥