Alex Johnston Open to Leading PNG in Future NRL Entry

Papua New Guinea internationals Lachlan Lam and Edwin Ipape were instrumental in Leigh Leopards' commanding 28‑10 victory over Hull KR in Round 18 of the Betfred Super League at the Leopards Den on Saturday, July 12, 2025.

The Leopards’ win, achieved in scorching 30‑plus degree heat and in front of 9,682 fans, ended a six‑match losing streak to Hull KR—Leigh’s first success over them since the 2023 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley. The result lifted Leigh to third on the Super League table.

PNG International in action for the Leopards [Photo by Leigh Leopards]

Lam, playing at stand-off, delivered several crucial try assists and scored one himself following a lung-bursting break from fullback Tesi Niu, which Lam finished with precise support play. Meanwhile, Ipape anchored the middle of the park at hooker, working tirelessly around the ruck to ensure solid possession and defensive structure.

Veteran winger Josh Charnley grabbed the headlines with his 250th and 251st Super League tries—the first, a stunning one-handed finish; the second, a dramatic score in the final 12 seconds. His late strike earned him the “Champagne Moment” and cemented his place as the second-highest all-time Super League try scorer behind Ryan Hall.

Despite efforts from Tyrone May and Kelepi Tanginoa for Hull KR, their challenge was undermined by the early withdrawal of Danny Richardson through injury and the absence of Mikey Lewis under concussion protocols. Rovers also lost Jez Litten to a sin-bin for obstruction and saw his replacement Michael McIlorum immediately sin‑binned after coming on, disrupting their structure further.

Leigh’s full-backs and halves combined well throughout, but it was Bailey Hodgson whose consistent form earned him Player of the Match for a second consecutive week. His control and creativity underpinned the side's sustained attacking threats.

Match Details at a Glance:

Venue & Date: Leopards Den, Saturday 12 July 2025, 3 pm

Scoreline: Leigh Leopards 28 – Hull KR 10

PNG Players: Lachlan Lam (try & assists), Edwin Ipape (hooker duties)

Other Try‑scorers (Leigh): O’Neill, Hanley, Brand, Lam, Charnley (×2)

Try‑scorers (Rovers): May, Tanginoa

Goals: Gareth O’Brien (2/5), Mourge (1/2)

Attendance: 9,682

Referee: Liam Moore

Papua New Guinea’s Lam and Ipape shone again, helping propel Leigh toward a top‑four finish and underlining the growing impact of PNG talent within Super League football.

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Alex Johnston Open to Leading PNG in Future NRL Entry