Betfred Super League Round 2 (2:30pm)

Leopards Den, Sunday 23 February 2025

Leigh Leopards 24-10 Huddersfield Giants

Leopards put on The Greatest Show in Super League off the pitch and maintained their winning start to the season on the pitch to eventually wear down the Giants’ dogged resistance at a rain soaked and windy Leopards Den.

Buoyed by the news of Edwin Ipape’s six-year contract extension and a pre-match build-up that even surpassed last season’s fine efforts, the near 8,500 crowd was in exultant mood as Leopards made their home bow for the 2025 season.

Keanan Brand’s fine finish in the corner from Lachlan Lam’s superbly floated pass for the Leopards off to a flying start. But Giants, with the elements in their favour, dug deep in a rugged first half and went in 8-6 ahead at the break.

Oliver Wilson reacted first to Zach Woolford’s grubber kick for the first try Leopards conceded in 2025 with debutant George Flanagan tagging on a conversion and penalty.

Gareth O’Brien kicked a penalty on the stroke of half-time after a successful captain’s challenge, but Flanagan edged Giants further ahead with his third goal soon after the re-start.

Leopards’ aggressive defence and superb work rate eventually paid off as they applied a stranglehold to the second half, restricting Giants territory and subjecting them to long spells of desperate defence.

David Armstrong set the North Stand alight with a breathtaking 30-metre angled finish and O’Brien’s second goal had the home side back in front.

Leopards’ intense pressure paid off with two late converted tries that gave the scoreline a more comfortable look that it really was.

Matt Davis capitalised on a Giants error on possession to dive in by the side of the posts and Tesi Niu jubilantly finished off another Armstrong break.

With his grandmother, mother and sister in attendance while on holiday from Australia, one of Leopards’ new players Ethan O’Neill deservedly captured the Player of the Match award for another outstanding display in the second row.

O’Neill was one of six Leopards players making their home debut and the fans now have new heroes as well as old ones to sing about and savour watching.

The BBC2 cameras were in attendance and those watching nationwide will have seen for themselves that Leopards know how to put on a show.

Leopards

1 David Armstrong; 18 Keanan Brand, 4 Umyla Hanley, 3 Tesi Niu, 24 Bailey Hodgson; 6 Gareth O’Brien, 7 Lachlan Lam; 8 Owen Trout, 17 Brad Dwyer, 10 Robbie Mulhern, 11 Frankie Halton, 20 Ethan O’Neill, 13 Isaac Liu

Bench:

12 Jack Hughes, 15 Alec Tuitavake, 16 Matt Davis, 9 Edwin Ipape. 18th player 19 Louis Brogan

Tries: Brand (8), Armstrong (44), Davis (67), Niu (76)

Goals: O’Brien 4/ 6

Giants

1 Jacob Gagai; 2 Adam Swift, 3 Jake Bibby, 12 Sam Hewitt, 20 Elliot Wallis; 6 Tuimoala Lolohea, 29 George Flanagan; 8 Oliver Wilson, 9 Zachary Woolford, 10 Tom Burgess, 11 Jack Murchie, 17 Joe Greenwood, 21 Leroy Cudjoe

Bench:

14 Ashton Golding, 15 Matthew English, 25 Jack Billington, 18 Fenton Rogers. 18th man: 19 Thomas Deakin

Tries: Wilson (23)

Goals: Flanagan 3/ 3

Scoring sequence: 4-0, 4-6, 4-8, 6-8 (ht) 6-10, 12-10, 18-10, 24-10

Penalty count: 6-2

GLDO: 0-1

Attendance: 8,440

Referee: Marcus Griffiths

Touch judges: G Jones & A Moore; M Com: K Leyland; Reserve referee: G Shaw; Video referee: B Thaler

Main Match Sponsor: amokabel

Player of the Match sponsor: PSL Plumbing & Heating- awarded to Ethan O’Neill

Match ball sponsor: Caton Lloyd Audio Visual Solutions

Champagne moment: Forged Fire Solutions – awarded to David Armstrong for his try

Official kit sponsor: Reebok