Kai O’Donnell Joins Elite Club with Four-Try Haul Against Hull FC
On Sunday, Kai O’Donnell etched his name into Leigh history with a remarkable four-try performance against Hull FC in a Super League clash. This incredible feat not only marked a personal milestone for O’Donnell but also placed him among an elite group of Leigh forwards who have achieved similar success in the club’s long and storied history.
O’Donnell’s achievement is particularly notable as he becomes the first Leigh player to score four tries in a Super League game, a testament to both his individual prowess and the evolution of the game. His performance against Hull FC also makes him only the fourth Leigh forward to score four tries in a single game during the summer era, which began in 1996. He follows in the footsteps of Cory Paterson, Simon Baldwin, and Andrew Isherwood, all of whom made their mark in the modern game. Paterson, playing as a loose forward, managed the feat against Workington, while Baldwin and Isherwood both achieved theirs from the second-row position.
However, O’Donnell’s achievement is just the latest chapter in a rich history of try-scoring forwards at Leigh. The legendary Billy Smith, a forward from the early 20th century, remains the only Leigh player to have scored five tries in a game—an extraordinary feat he accomplished not once, but twice. Smith’s first five-try performance came in a match against Liverpool City in 1906, and he repeated the feat two years later against Keighley. It’s worth noting that in those days, forwards did not have defined positions as they do now, and with scrums following almost every tackle, the game was vastly different from today’s rugby league.
In addition to Smith, the great Mick Martyn also recorded a four-try game, further cementing his legacy as one of Leigh’s finest players.
With O’Donnell’s inclusion, only six Leigh forwards have managed to score four or more tries in a single game since the club’s inception in 1895. This select group—comprising Billy Smith, Mick Martyn, Cory Paterson, Simon Baldwin, Andrew Isherwood, and now Kai O’Donnell—stands as a testament to the enduring strength and skill of Leigh’s forwards throughout the club’s history.
O’Donnell’s remarkable performance against Hull FC not only secured a memorable victory for his team but also ensured that his name will be remembered alongside some of the greatest players ever to don the Leigh jersey
Billy Smith 5 v Liverpool City 1906 and 5 v Keighley 1908
Written by Terry Rytz
