Are better times around the corner for Wire's next opponents?

THEIR success was arguably the surprise of 2023 but this time around, Leigh Leopards have found the going much tougher.

As such, they will arrive in Warrington on Saturday in the knowledge that the importance of getting back to winning ways is getting increasingly paramount.

However, head coach Adrian Lam is adamant better times are just around the corner as his team copes with the absence of some key players.

Captain John Asiata and hooker Edwin Ipape – both of whom were named in last year’s Super League Dream Team as the newly-promoted Leopards defied expectations to reach the play-offs and lift the Challenge Cup – have both spent long periods on the sidelines, as has another Dream Team rep in prop Tom Amone.

Their latest injury blow is losing full-back Gareth O’Brien for an extended period due to a torn calf, but Amone was able to return during last week’s Challenge Cup loss to Hull KR while his front-row partner Robbie Mulhern looks set to feature this weekend despite injuring his calf in that game.

Now there is light at the end of that tunnel, Leigh will face Warrington Wolves looking for just their second Super League victory of the season.

So as they prepare to tackle Sam Burgess’ side, does Lam believe his squad are on the verge of an upturn?

“Without a doubt,” he said.

“At times in games, we’ve done some really good things.

“Last week, we had 40 minutes of pure class and then 20 minutes in the second half where it was pretty good, but the other 20 minutes is when we’ve lost that consistency and have been hurt through our defence.

“We’re always working hard on our defence – the first quarter of the season has gone now and that will be our priority moving forward.

“Having said that, there are games we could and should have won.

“We’ve got to judge the players by their attitude and how they train on a weekly basis, and spirits are high.

“We’re a really tight-knit bunch of men, we care about each other and we know we’ve got to keep working hard so those results will come.

“I feel really confident that’s not too far away and once we get that right, you’ll see us go on a roll.

“We’ve got to keep that belief, keep supporting each other and we’ll get through these difficult times.”