Leigh Leopards 2025 season review
- Overview
- Highs
- Lows
- 2025 RLB Player of the Year – Lachlan Lam
- Reasons to be positive in 2026
- My 2025 prediction – 6th
- Final 2025 position – 3rd (+3)
Overview
Leigh’s remarkable progression continued in 2025, as they claimed their highest finish since 1982 and took another step closer to a first appearance at Old Trafford.
Strictly speaking, that’s not entirely true, as they reached the same stage as they did in 2024, but their 18-6 loss at Wigan in the play-off semi-final was a marked improvement on their 38-0 loss to the same side a year earlier.
They finished two places and eight points higher in the table at the end of the regular season as well. The Leopards’ next logical step is a Grand Final appearance, and they’re closer than ever based on 2025’s evidence.
Highs
Leigh’s remarkable 1-0 win over Wigan in Round One was the perfect way to kick off the campaign and they looked a threat throughout the year.
They beat four of the five teams that made the play-offs alongside them, while Umyla Hanley made the Dream Team at the end of the year. Surprisingly, Lachlan Lam didn’t, but he was outsanding again in 2025, and his 41 try assists was 11 clear of anyone else in the competition.
Bailey Hodgson was a revelation on his return from the NRL, while Owen Trout earned an England call-up for his performances.
Lows
The 21-14 loss to Warrington in the Challenge Cup semi-final was a kick in the guts for Leigh, who were chasing a second Wembley appearance in three seasons. They followed it up with back-to-back defeats in Super League as well.
The play-off loss to Wigan was disappointing too, and while the Leopards got closer than they did in 2024, they still fell short when it mattered against a side they’d beaten twice in the regular season.
On the injury front, Leigh fared better than a lot of their rivals, but the loss of David Armstrong to a ruptured ACL was a bitter blow. The Aussie fullback had made a strong start to life as a Leopard, although his misfortune opened the door for Bailey Hodgson to establish himself in the number one jersey.
2025 RLB Player of the Year – Lachlan Lam
Lam was sensational in 2025, and was incredibly unlucky to miss out on the Dream Team and Man of Steel awards. He still picked up the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters’ Association Player of the Year award though, and his 41 try assists was a league high.
Reasons to be positive in 2026
Leigh have been on the up-and-up since returning to Super League in 2023, with a Challenge Cup victory and three straight play-off appearances.
The next step is a place in the Grand Final at Old Trafford, and with their settled squad and top coach Adrian Lam, they’re well positioned to go one further in 2026.
My 2025 prediction – 6th
Final 2025 position – 3rd (+3)
I expected a play-off finish for Leigh this year, but I’ll admit that I underestimated them. At the start of the campaign I saw them as a solid top six side but not genuine contenders, but they’re much closer to success than I gave them credit for.
