ADRIAN LAM has hailed Josh Charnley after he became Super League’s record try-scorer in their recent victory against Bradford Bulls.
By scoring three tries Charnley overtook Leeds Rhinos winger Ryan Hall. He now has 272 tries to his name, one ahead of Hall’s tally.
With the pair still both going strong, there could be a tit-for-tat race in store until the end of the campaign.
Neither could add to their figures in Round 15, with Hall not scoring in Leeds’ 34-6 win at Warrington Wolves, while Charnley missed Leigh’s game at Hull KR after a cut to his leg required stitches.
Charnley is out of contract at the end of this season. While Leopards coach Lam would not be drawn on the winger’s future, he did highlight just how highly thought of Charnley is at the club.
“He’s an exceptional person off the field – he is a popular member of the whole squad,” Lam said.
“He is down to earth, he’s got a great sense of humour and his family is all the same.
“He turns up to training with a smile on his face and has never had a bad attitude.
“Each year he has been here he has inspired the team and he is playing as good as any winger in Super League.
“For us to have him and for us to be a part of what he has achieved is incredible. For him to beat that record as a Leigh player is a great honour.
“He spent two years out of the game in the other code and he could have scored another 40 or 50 tries if he had been here.”
The coach’s son Lachlan Lam also missed the Hull KR game with a similar injury to Charnley.
Both will hope to return this Saturday when Leigh travel to Toulouse Olympique.