2023 Leigh Leopards season

Last updated

Leigh Leopards 2023 season
2023 Challenge Cup champions
Super League XXVIII Rank5th
Play-off resultEliminators
Challenge Cup Champions
2023 recordWins: 20; draws: 0; losses: 11
Points scoredFor: 585; against: 508
Team information
ChairmanDerek Beaumont
Head Coach Adrian Lam
Captain
Stadium Leigh Sports Village
Top scorers
Tries Josh Charnley (27)
Goals Ben Reynolds (75)
Points Ben Reynolds (172)
←  2022 List of seasons 2024  →

The 2023 season was the Leigh Leopards's 4th season overall and 1st season back playing in England's top division of rugby league after relegation to the RFL Championship in 2021. During the season, they competed in the Super League XXVIII and the 2023 Challenge Cup.

Contents

Preseason friendlies

Date and TimeVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
22 January, 15:00Leeds RhinosHLeigh Sports VillageW14-12Charnley, Leutele, HardakerHardaker 1/32,941 [1]

Super League

Fixtures

Date and timeVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceTVReport
17 February, 20:00 Redscolours.svg Salford Red Devils H Leigh Sports Village L10–20 Charnley, Hughes Hardaker (1/2)8,589 Channel 4 [2]
25 February, 20:00 Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons A Stade Gilbert Brutus L6–14 Wardle Reynolds (1/1)7,862Not televised [3]
3 March, 20:00 HKRcolours.svg Hull KR A Craven Park W30–25 Briscoe 2, Charnley 2, Amone Reynolds (5/5)8,448Not televised [4]
10 March, 20:00 Saintscolours.svg St Helens H Leigh Sports Village W20–12 Briscoe, Charnley, Hardaker, Shorrocks Hardaker (2/4)7,734 Sky Sports [5]
17 March, 20:00 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves A Halliwell Jones Stadium L20–38 Amone, Briscoe, Charnley, Hardaker Hardaker (2/4)12,073Not televised [6]
25 March, 15:00 Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. A MKM Stadium W24–16 Charnley 3, O'Donnell Reynolds (2/4 + 2 pen.)10,952 Sky Sports [7]
30 March, 20:00 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors H Leigh Sports Village L6–34 Briscoe Reynolds (1/1)9,189 Sky Sports + [8]
8 April, 14:30 Redscolours.svg Salford Red Devils H Leigh Sports Village L20–22 Charnley 2, Briscoe, Reynolds Reynolds (1/3 + 1 pen.)6,002 Sky Sports + [9]
16 April, 15:00 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity A Belle Vue W32–0 Charnley 2, Lam, Mellor, O'Brien, Reynolds Reynolds (4/6)4,710 Sky Sports [10]
21 April, 20:00 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos H Leigh Sports Village W20–6 Ipape 2, O'Donnell Reynolds (2/3 + 2 pen.)6,686Not televised [11]
5 May, 20:00 Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers H Leigh Sports Village W30–6 Davis, Leutele, O'Donnell, Reynolds, Seumanufagai Reynolds (5/5)5,423 Sky Sports [12]
12 May, 19:45 Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Giants A John Smith's Stadium W30–4 Charnley 2, Lam, Mellor, Reynolds Reynolds (5/5)4,977 Sky Sports [13]
26 May, 20:00 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves H Leigh Sports Village W30–12 O'Brien 2, Briscoe, Charnley, Reynolds Reynolds (4/5 + 1 pen.)8,123 Sky Sports [14]
4 June, 12:00 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity N St James' Park W30–4 Lam 2, Mulhern, Ipape, Charnley Reynolds (1/1), Hardaker (3/4 + 1 pen.)26,326 Sky Sports + [15]
9 June, 20:00 Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. H Leigh Sports Village W28–16 Gareth O'Brien, Briscoe, Charnley 2, Joseph Mellor Hardaker (4/5)6,006 Sky Sports [16]
24 June, 18:00 Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons A Stade Gilbert Brutus L30–38 Chamberlain 2, Ipape, Charnley, Briscoe Reynolds (5/5)9,636 Sky Sports [17]
30 June, 20:00 HKRcolours.svg Hull KR H Leigh Sports Village W34–4 Briscoe, Ipape, Chamberlain, Charnley, Mulhern Reynolds (5/5)6,012 Sky Sports + [18]
7 July, 20:00 Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers A Mend-A-Hose Jungle W34–16 Amone, Lam 2, Briscoe, Charnley 2 Reynolds (5/6)6,344 Sky Sports [19]
16 July, 15:00 Redscolours.svg Salford Red Devils A AJ Bell Stadium W24–22 Chamberlain, Leutele, Lam, Hardaker Reynolds (3/4 + 1 pen.)6,892 Sky Sports [20]
29 July, 13:00 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors A DW Stadium L18–44 Amone, Briscoe, Mulhern Reynolds (3/3)15,377 Channel 4 [21]
6 August, 15:00 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos A Headingley Stadium W13–6 Ipape, Amone Reynolds (1/2 + 1 pen.), O'Brien (1 Drop goal)12,785 Sky Sports Action [22]
19 August, 15:00 Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons H Leigh Sports Village L14–30 Amone, Nakubuwai Reynolds (2/2 + 1 pen.)8,602 Sky Sports + [23]
25 August, 20:00 HKRcolours.svg Hull KR A Craven Park W10–52 Charnley, Ipape Hardaker (1/2)8,013 Sky Sports Action [24]
3 September, 15:00 Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Giants H Leigh Sports Village W34–16 Charnley 2, Briscoe, Ipape, Asiata, Lam Reynolds (5/6)6,064 Sky Sports [25]
8 September, 20:00 Saintscolours.svg St Helens A Totally Wicked Stadium L12–22 Gildart, Mulhern Reynolds (2/2)13,428 Sky Sports Mix [26]
15 September, 20:00 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity H Leigh Sports Village W20–19 Briscoe, Charnley, Hughes Reynolds (2/2 + 1 pen.), O'Brien (2 Drop goals)5,565Not televised [27]
22 September, 20:00 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors H Leigh Sports Village L6–10 Lam Reynolds (1/1)10,308 Sky Sports + [28]

Table

PosTeam
PldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors (L, C)272007722360+36240Qualification to Semi-finals
2 Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons 272007722420+30240
3 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens 272007613366+24740Qualification to Eliminators
4 HKRcolours.svg Hull KR 2716011589498+9132
5 Leigh colours.svg Leigh Leopards 2716011585508+7732
6 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 2714013597512+8528
7 Redscolours.svg Salford Red Devils 2713014494512−1826
8 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 2712015535534+124
9 Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Giants 2711016473552−7922
10 Hullcolours.svg Hull FC 2710017476654−17820
11 Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers 276021323774−45112
12 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity (R)274023303742−4398Relegation to Championship
Source: Super League
(C) Champions; (L) League Leaders' Shield Winners; (R) Relegated

Play-offs

Date and timeRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceTVReport
29 September, 20:00Eliminators HKRcolours.svg Hull KR A Craven Park L6–20 Charnley Reynolds (1/2)9,305 Sky Sports + [29]

Challenge Cup

Leigh Leopards celebrating winning the 2023 Challenge Cup. 2023 Challenge Cup Final Trophy Lift.jpg
Leigh Leopards celebrating winning the 2023 Challenge Cup.
Date and timeRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceTVReport
20 May, 14:30Round 6 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity A The Be Well Support Stadium W40–121,568 BBC One [30] [31]
18 June, 17:00Quarter Finals YorkRLFCcolours.png York Knights A York Community Stadium W34–14 Joseph Mellor, Tom Amone, Briscoe 2, Charnley 2 O'Brien (2), Hardaker (3) BBC One [32]
22 July, 14:30Semi Finals Saintscolours.svg St Helens A Halliwell Jones Stadium W12–10 Holmes, Hardaker Reynolds (2) BBC One [33]
12 August, 15:00 Final HKRcolours.svg Hull KR A Wembley Stadium W17–16 Lam, Briscoe Reynolds (2) + 2 pen.), Lam 1 Drop goal 58,213 BBC One [34]

Transfers

Gains

PlayerClubContractDate
Flag of England.svg Gareth O'Brien Castleford Tigers 2 yearsOctober 2022 [35]
Flag of Samoa.svg Ricky Leutele Huddersfield Giants
Flag of England.svg Tom Briscoe Leeds Rhinos
Flag of England.svg Zak Hardaker
Flag of England.svg Nathan Wilde Newcastle Thunder
Flag of England.svg Matt Davis Warrington Wolves
Flag of England.svg Jacob Gannon
Flag of England.svg Oliver Holmes
Flag of England.svg Jack Hughes
Flag of England.svg Robbie Mulhern
Flag of England.svg Umyla Hanley Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors January 2023 [36]
Flag of England.svg Frankie Halton Hull KR

Losses

Squad

2023 Leigh Squad
First team squadCoaching staff

Head coach


Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 30 September 2023
Source(s): 2023 Squad Numbers, Rugby League Project

References

  1. ↑ "Hardaker comes back to haunt old side as Rhinos are pipped in tight game at Leigh". Yorkshire Evening Post. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  2. ↑ "Super League: Shaun Kenny-Dowall treble leads Hull Kingston Rovers to 27-18 win over Warriors". Sky Sports.
  3. ↑ "Super League (Sky Sports)". SkySports.
  4. ↑ "Super League (Sky Sports)". SkySports.
  5. ↑ "Super League: Catalans Dragons go top as Manu Ma'u double seals 18-10 victory over Wigan Warriors". Sky Sports.
  6. ↑ "Super League: Huddersfield Giants 12-14 Wigan Warriors; Warrington Wolves 38-20 Leigh Leopards". Sky Sports.
  7. ↑ "Super League: Bevan French and Toby King help Wigan Warriors see off Salford Red Devils 20-16 in thriller". Sky Sports.
  8. ↑ "Super League: Wigan Warriors emerge 34-6 winners over Leigh Leopards in 'Battle of the Borough'". Sky Sports.
  9. ↑ "Wigan Warriors 14-6 St Helens: Hosts seal Good Friday derby glory over Saints to go second in Super League". Sky Sports.
  10. ↑ "Warrington Wolves 6-13 Wigan Warriors: Harry Smith stars as visitors hand hosts first loss in Super League in 2023". Sky Sports.
  11. ↑ "Super League (Sky Sports)". SkySports.
  12. ↑ "Hull FC 14-10 Wigan Warriors: Hosts battle past Super League leaders to make it back-to-back wins". Sky Sports.
  13. ↑ "Wigan Warriors 18-40 Leeds Rhinos: Harry Newman inspires 12-player visitors to stunning win". Sky Sports.
  14. ↑ "Hull KR 22-26 Wigan Warriors: Liam Farrell snatches golden-point glory for visitors in Super League thriller". Sky Sports.
  15. ↑ "Wigan Warriors 22-46 Catalans Dragons: Tom Johnstone's hat-trick helps French side cruise to Magic Weekend win". Sky Sports.
  16. ↑ "St Helens 34-16 Wigan Warriors: Jack Welsby stars to help Super League champions seal derby delight". Sky Sports.
  17. ↑ "Catalans Dragons 38-30 Leigh Leopards: French side move two points clear at top of Super League table with win". Sky Sports. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  18. ↑ "Super League: Leigh Leopards run riot against Hull KR- as it happened". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  19. ↑ "Castleford vs Leigh". www.skysports.com.
  20. ↑ "Salford vs Leigh". www.skysports.com.
  21. ↑ "Wigan vs Leigh". www.skysports.com. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  22. ↑ "Leeds vs Leigh". www.skysports.com.
  23. ↑ "Leigh Leopards 14-30 Catalans Dragons: Super League leaders beat Challenge Cup winners". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  24. ↑ "Hull KR dominate Leigh 52-10 in Challenge Cup revenge while Salford and St Helens clinch commanding wins". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  25. ↑ "Super League: Leigh vs Huddersfield abandoned due to floodlight failure". Sky Sports. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  26. ↑ "St Helens vs Leigh". Sky Sports. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  27. ↑ "Super League (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  28. ↑ "Leigh vs Wigan". www.skysports.com.
  29. ↑ "Super League Eliminator: Hull Kingston Rovers seal semi-final spot with tough 20-6 victory over Leigh Leopards". Sky Sports. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  30. ↑ "Two Betfred Challenge Cup Ties to be shown live on the BBC". www.rugby-league.com.
  31. ↑ "Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors - Rugby League". BBC Sport.
  32. ↑ "BBC confirm Challenge Cup quarter-finals coverage with details announced". LoveRugbyLeague. 23 May 2023.
  33. ↑ "Challenge Cup semi-final draws made with venues to be confirmed". 18 June 2023.
  34. ↑ "Challenge Cup final: Lachlan Lam drop goal seals dramatic 17-16 win for Leigh Leopards over Hull Kingston Rovers". www.skysports.com. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  35. ↑ "Leigh Leopards: Super League club changes name and signs 10 players". BBC Sport. 20 October 2022.
  36. ↑ "Leigh Leopards new signing after handing Wigan Warriors man squad number for Super League 2023". 13 January 2023.
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