DEREK BEAUMONT has hailed Leigh Leopards star Lachlan Lam for putting his club first after declining a place in Papua New Guinea’s World Cup squad, electing to undergo surgery instead.
Lam, whose omission from PNG’s squad raised a number of eyebrows, played the second half of the 2026 season while managing an injury and was advised by a specialist that an operation would be required.
The timing of that operation would, however, mean that Lam would either miss the World Cup or the start of next campaign and Leigh’s trip to Las Vegas.
Beaumont said: “With World Cups only taking place every four years, they are special and rare opportunities, particularly given the average length of a playing career at international level, and to that end, I would always want to give everyone the opportunity to play when selected.
“Lachie could easily have downed tools and put his body first earlier this season and had the operation so he was fit to play in the World Cup, but he respected the significant investment the town and the club made in him, and his importance on the field, and played on tough with temporary medical intervention to assist.
“Therefore, to repay that, I had made a special dispensation that he could delay his required operation so he could play in the World Cup and represent his country, with the operation funded by the club in Australia immediately after his involvement ended.
“We had a good meeting around this, and he discussed the timelines and how it could impact his start to what we want to be a significant year for the club, as well as the obvious attraction of the Vegas fixture.
“He wasn’t definitive, and I told him to consider everything over a period of time with his family, and we would support whatever decision he made.
“I am sure it was a very tough decision for him to make, but he deserves the utmost respect that he has again put the club first and has a firm focus on achieving the significant goals we have set for ourselves in 2027.”
