EDWIN Ipape praised Papua New Guinea icon Adrian Lam for making him into the player he is today as Leigh Leopards’ push for a top two Betfred Super League finish continued.
The hooker has been with Leigh since the early days of the Lam revolution, joining from Queensland Cup side PNG Hunters ahead of the 2022 season and helping them to a Betfred Championship and AB Sundecks 1895 Cup double as well as a first Betfred Challenge Cup triumph for over half a century the following year.
Ipape’s importance to the Leopards is such that they signed him to a six-year contract at the start of this season, but the 26-year-old believes none of it would have been possible without the influence of his head coach and compatriot.
- Ralph Rimmer: I’m a bad person to slow down
- Leigh Leopards’ Josh Charnley eyes Super League grand final after comeback win
- Subscribe to rugbyleaguehub.com on YouTube
WHAT A FINISH 🙌
The Leopards come from behind to win 👏#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/1X4OdgB1AF
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) August 1, 2025
“I wasn’t given an opportunity back home, and he brought me here and built me as a player and a person,” Ipape told Sky Sports.
“He kept me accountable and I’ve learnt about Lammy’s leadership.
“He instills confidence and he makes our job easy. He’s definitely one of the best coaches I’ve played under.
“He’s keep me accountable on and off the field with my actions.”
Third-placed Leigh are now just one point behind reigning champions and borough rivals Wigan Warriors with seven games left in Super League’s regular season after a fourth-straight win in Friday’s 20-16 win at home to Warrington Wolves.
The hosts had to do it the hard way though, coming back from 14-2 down with 15 minutes to play, and assist-provider Ipape was one of those who earned the plaudits from head coach Lam.
“He was one of the ones who stood up when it counted most,” Lam told Sky Sports.
“I know I said his name about 30 times during the game about doing this when he wasn’t doing it, but when it counted most he was flying out of nine and getting involved as much as he could.
“I can get my head around it, but I guess in the season we’re having, one of those games can define your season and where you finish.
“Hopefully that will come to count when it counts most.”
That win over the Wolves might have been a mixed bag for Ipape, but he is happy to hear the bad as well as the good from Lam.
Indeed, the words of wisdom from the man affectionately known as the ‘Kumul Kid’ are serving the PNG international well both on and off the pitch.
“He tells me ‘you play how you train’ and ‘whatever you do each week shows in the 80 minutes on the field’,” Ipape said.
“That’s one thing I’ve really take on board and I look after myself outside of rugby league.
“At gametime, he’s very honest with me. Sometimes the boys say ‘Oh, he loves you and he looks after you!’, but he’s really honest and if I do something bad he tells me.
“I always listen to his advice and take it on board, and I think that’s working well for me.”