ADRIAN LAM believes he was “proved right” with the recent success of Adam Cook.
The Leopards are delicately poised in fifth place on the Super League ladder, behind Wakefield Trinity in fourth on points difference alone.
It’s been a whirlwind year for Leigh after a stuttering start due to an extensive injury list, but Lam’s men are now firing on all cylinders having won eight of their last nine.
One man who has been instrumental to their rise up the table has been former Canberra Raiders halfback Cook.
Cook, who joined the Leopards ahead of the current campaign, endured a difficult start to life in Super League.
But head coach Lam believes it was always going to take the 25-year-old time to settle.
“It usually takes about twelve weeks for new arrivals to bed in properly, so I was right about that,” said Lam, who takes his side to Huddersfield Giants on Friday night.
“His combination with Lachie (Lam) is one of the best halfback combinations in the competition.
“It’s good that the combination is coming together at this time of the year and I’m excited to see that partnership with those two, Davey Armstrong and Edwin Ipape blossom further.
“Adam has adapted really well and he has got the respect from his teammates.”
On Leigh’s form, which has given them the opportunity to earn a home play-off eliminator should they breach the top four, Lam said: “We have worked really hard to get to this position because it’s been a really tough year.
“I love how resilient the team is, how patient we have been, and we have had some important wins to get us into this position.
“If we can win three games in a row then it will give us a home tie.
“Knowing that if we get this right then the season and how it unfolds is in our hands.”