Betfred Super League Round 24
Thursday 28 August 2025
Leopards Den (8pm)
Leigh Leopards 46-6 Castleford Tigers
Leopards made history on another night of celebration at the Leopards Den, clinching a play-off spot for the third season in a row and amassing their highest points tally in the top division since the championship-winning season of 1981-82, 43 years ago.
Josh Charnley also reached 1,500 career points with his first half try as Leopards moved up to third in Super League by completing a league double over the Tigers, with a convincing all round display.
For the first time in club history Leopards have reached the top six in three successive seasons, a tremendous feat by head coach Adrian Lam, his staff and players. Never have the club enjoyed such a period of sustained success.
Lachlan Lam was at his creative best, involved in everything, as Leopards made it a night to forget for former head of rugby Chris Chester, now Tigers’ interim coach.
Former Leopard favourite Tom Amone, returning to the Den for the first time since his departure at the end of last season, suffered a foot injury and was helped from the field after 17th minute, earning a great ovation from the home supporters who sung his name repeatedly.
Leopards made a dominant start and bossed the game throughout, scoring four tries in each half.
Frankie Halton opened the scoring in the fourth minute after a sweeping move, running a great line from the first of several Lam assists. When Isaac Liu and Gareth O’Brien set up Lam for the second Tigers knew they were facing a difficult evening.
Lam and Umyla Hanley then combined to create Keanan Brand’s acrobatic right corner finish before Bailey Hodgson joined the attack to collect Lam’s pass and usher Josh Charnley over for a try that brought up his personal milestone. In the build-up Lam had supplied a delicious 40/20 kick.
With O’Brien in great kicking form, Leopards went in 24-0 ahead at the interval.
The second half followed a similar pattern with Lam setting up the rampaging Alec Tuitavake before Brad Dwyer swooped on a loose ball after Tigers failed to deal with O’Brien’s high kick.
Tuitavake blasted over from O’Brien’s pass to open a 42-0 lead before Tigers got on the scoresheet after fullback Tex Hoy hacked on Chris Atkin’s desperate kick after an attacking move had broken down.
Brand grabbed his second try after another great piece of creative work by Lam before the hooter brought relief to a well beaten Tigers side who at least avoided the ignominy of conceding a half century of points.
Leopards
Bailey Hodgson; Keanan Brand, Umyla Hanley, Tesi Niu, Josh Charnley; Gareth O’Brien, Lachlan Lam; Aaron Pene, Edwin Ipape, Robbie Mulhern, Frankie Halton, Andrew Badrock, Isaac Liu
Bench:
Jack Hughes, Alec Tuitavake, Matt Davis, Brad Dwyer. 18th man Ben McNamara (not used)
Tries:
Halton (4), Lam (10), Brand (20, 75), Charnley (26), Tuitavake (53, 61), Dwyer (57)
Goals:
O’Brien 7/ 7, Hodgson 0/ 1
Tigers
Tex Hoy; Alfie Lindsey, Alex Mellor, Louis Senior, Elliot Wallis; Daejarn Asi, Chris Atkin; Brad Singleton, Liam Horne, Tom Amone, Jeremiah Simbiken, Joe Stimson, George Lawler
Bench:
Joe Westerman, Cain Robb, Sam Hall, Muizz Mustapha. 18th plater Hugo Salabio (mot used)
Try:
Hoy (69)
Goal:
Asi 1/ 1
Scoring sequence: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0 (ht) 30-0, 36-0, 42-0, 42-6, 46-6
Attendance: 8,330
Penalty count: 3-2
GLDO: 1-2
Referee: Liam Moore; Touch-judges: Tara Jones & Matty Lynn; Reserve referee: J Callaghan
M Com: Keith Leyland; Timekeeper: Peter Taberner; Video referee: Tom Grant
Main Match sponsor: G&T Express Ltd (Freight Forwarders)
Associate sponsor: David Lloyd Clubs Chorley
Player of the Match sponsor: Simplygreen Turfing Specialists (awarded to Lachlan Lam)
Match Ball sponsors: Electrical Solutions (Warrington) Ltd
Champagne Moment sponsor: Advanced Steel Services (awarded to Keanan Brand’s first try)
Official Kit & Retail partner: Reebok
