In a season of ‘firsts’ for Leigh Leopards, another remarkable achievement has now made an indelible mark in the game’s history books.
Lachlan Lam has been voted the 2023 Player of the Year by the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters Association.
He became the first Leigh player to win the prestigious award.
He also follows in the footsteps of his father Adrian, the Leopards head coach, who won the award while a Wigan Warriors player in 2002.
They become the first father and son to both win the award, which was first presented in 1996.
It completes a remarkable double for Lachlan, who won the Lance Todd Trophy for his man-of-the-match display in the Leopards’ Betfred Challenge Cup victory over Hull KR.
He was presented with his latest award by his father Adrian at Leigh Leopards’ Membership & Sponsors Presentation Evening at Leigh Sports Village.
Previous winners of the RLWBA Player of the Year Award, which was renamed the Raymond Fletcher Memorial Trophy from 2014 are as follows:
1996 Apollo Perelini (St Helens)
1997 Andy Farrell (Wigan)
1998 Iestyn Harris (Leeds)
1999 Iestyn Harris (Leeds)
2000 Tommy Martyn (St Helens)
2001 Paul Sculthorpe (St Helens)
2002 Adrian Lam (Wigan)
2003 Jamie Peacock (Bradford)
2004 Danny McGuire (Leeds)
2005 Jamie Lyon (St Helens)
2006 Paul Wellens (St Helens)
2007 Trent Barrett (Wigan)
2008 James Graham (St Helens)
2009 Brett Hodgson (Huddersfield)
2010 Pat Richards (Wigan)
2011 Sam Tomkins (Wigan)
2012 Sam Tomkins (Wigan)
2013 Danny Brough (Huddersfield)
2014 Jamie Peacock (Leeds)
2015 Adam Cuthbertson (Leeds)
2016 Gareth Ellis/Danny Houghton (Hull)
2017 Luke Gale (Castleford)
2018 James Roby (St Helens)
2019 Jackson Hastings (Salford)
2020 Bevan French (Wigan)
2021 Sam Tomkins (Catalan Dragons)
2022 Jai Field (Wigan)
2023 Lachlan Lam (Leigh Leopards)
