LACHLAN Lam’s plan for Alec Tuitavake came together as Leigh Leopards stormed past hapless Castleford Tigers 46-6 on Thursday night.
The former St George Illawarra Dragons reserve-grade forward grabbed his first two tries in 21 appearances for the Leopards in the win at Leigh Sports Village which helped the hosts up to third in the Betfred Super League table and confirmed their play-off place.
Tuitavake cuts an imposing presence, standing at 6ft 1in and weighing over 16 stone, but halfback Lam has been determined to utilise some of the prop’s less-heralded attributes to help Leigh and felt that paid off as they put Cas to the sword.
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Are the Leopards heading to Old Trafford? 🤔
They’ve booked their place in the 2025 @Betfred #SuperLeague Play-Offs 🙌 pic.twitter.com/H2baSBZ89A
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) August 28, 2025
“It’s a little something me and Lex have been working on there,” Lam told Sky Sports.
“He’s really, really light on his feet, he’s got good movement and he’s strong.
“I’ve made it a little project of mine to try to see where we can go in a little bit of space because he is dynamic, so we’ve got to get the best out of him.”
Tuitavake’s showing off the interchange bench in the Round 24 opener also included him providing an assist for a try, averaging seven metres per carry on seven carries, plus making two clean breaks and busting five tackles.
Up to third in the #SuperLeague table 👀 pic.twitter.com/toL7YL1sUT
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) August 28, 2025
Head coach Adrian Lam was delighted with the showing of both him and the returning Aaron Pene, making his first appearance since April 19, in the absences of fellow forwards Owen Trout and Joe Ofahengaue.
“While [Trout and Ofahengaue] are out with some seniority, those two played their best rugby tonight,” the Leigh boss told Sky Sports.
“Pene has been out for a long time, but Alec Tuitavake is a popular member of the squad.
“Everyone got around him and were excited about [his two tries], but it was good stuff from those two.”
The win over the 11th-placed Tigers kept Leigh firmly in with a chance of securing home advantage for the playoffs, with a trip to Warrington Wolves, and home clashes with St Helens, and Huddersfield Giants still to come in the regular season.
Player of the match Lam acknowledged the work done by the pack as vital to their hopes of reaching a maiden Super League grand final, hailing their efforts in laying the platform for him and halves partner Gaz O’Brien.
“It’s everything through our team,” Lam said.
“We want to be fast and punchy [through the middle] and Edwin [Ipape], when he’s on, is the best in the world.
“Some of the stuff Isaac Liu is doing through the middle there, he’s making it work.
“We’ve got the boys on song, so we’re doing some good stuff there.”