Adrian Lam of the Leigh Leopards has been floated as a potential replacement for head coach Jason Demitriou, following the announcement today that the South Sydney Rabbitohs fired him.
Currently sitting at the bottom of the NRL table with just four points (two of which they earned during their bye week) and a -136 point deficit, the Souths have had an awful start to the season.
Sam Burgess left the club last year due to a falling out with Demitriou; since last month, there have been rumours that Burgess was going to be fired.
On his SEN Breakfast radio programme, renowned pundit Andrew Voss has now proposed Adrian Lam’s name.
“Here, I’m sort of crystal-balling and trying to figure out how everything fits together,” he said.
Lewis Dodd of St Helens visiting Australia and Mark Ellison, the football manager of South Sydney, travelling to England raises the question, “You’re not flying over for one signature,” in my opinion.
“I can’t help but believe Adrian Lam is considering a return to Australia, and if my calculations are correct, those calculations lead directly to South Sydney.
“You’re not just coming home with a player whose signature you already have a verbal agreement with anyway if you’re heading over to England.”
I don’t see how that makes sense. That is not, in my opinion, the logical conclusion.
It’s probably for a new coach, and I’ll take a chance. If I were to stroll towards a casino and indulge in a game of chocolate wheel, I would request to wager $10 on Adrian Lam.
Naturally, this is just “Vossy’s” conjecture, but what he says makes sense.
Flying from Australia to England is a long way, and since most negotiations now take place online, it wasn’t really necessary.
Adrian Lam and his Leigh Leopards’ credentials
“He’s had a few clubs in England, but he’s had success,” Voss went on. He was very successful at Wigan, but in my view, what he did with the Leigh Leopards was declare, “I’m ready for an Australian gig.”
He didn’t merely sign up for a dominant club. Although he joined a club while still in the process of getting better, Adrian Lam has clearly hit his stride at Leigh Leopards.
He hasn’t lost touch with the Australian game at all because he assists Mel Meninga with the Australian team. He has led Papua New Guinea as their head coach, and I believe the apprenticeship was worthwhile.
“You understand what I mean, but I’m not trying to undermine Super League by suggesting that it’s an apprenticeship. I believe that there are runs to be scored and that the moment is right.
Although the Leopards haven’t started the season perfectly, Lam has done a very good job leading them, and the team appears to be moving in the right direction once more.
It’s possible that he has always intended to return home after spending his formative years in Australia.
