Inside Leigh Leopards remarkable triumph with Super League side set for Wembley
One of the unsung heroes of Leigh’s remarkable surge to Wembley is the man doing all the business off the pitch.
After being sacked as Wakefield head coach in August 2021, Chris Chester was unsure where he’d end up next. But he took on a far different role as head of rugby at Championship challengers Leigh tasked with building a squad to get them into the elite. Barely 18 months later, not only is that squad in Super League but it’s flying high in second - and reached a first Challenge Cup final in more than half a century.
Saturday’s epic 12-10 semi-final win over St Helens has set up an August 12 Wembley showdown with Chester’s former club Hull KR.
And the 44 year-old enthused: “I’ve loved every minute of it. It’s exactly what I needed at that point in my career. I’d been a head coach so long and - with the added pressure of what that brings - this was perfect.
“Being around the boys and staff, it’s the next best thing to coaching. It’s been a good career move. And the recruitment side of it’s gone well.”
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That's an under-statement. As well as star NRL signings like John Asiata and Lachlan Lam, Chester secured a number of players unwanted elsewhere for boss Adrian Lam including Super League’s current top tryscorer Josh Charnley. And they've all flourished in Lam's exciting, free-flowing side.
He explained: “We’ve picked up a lot of players who had a point to prove. From Warrington alone we got Jack Hughes, Oli Holmes and Josh Charnley. Josh, bless him, was going to retire but he’s got his love for rugby back and that’s because of the atmosphere we’ve created here.
Leigh Leopards' Neil Jukes, Derek Beaumont, Chris Chester and Leigh coach Adrian Lam after Saturday's Challenge Cup semi-final win over St Helens. (Courtesy of Mike Inklay)“Oli wasn’t wanted by Warrington. I know Hughesy’s been injured but you could see what he brings in Saturday’s game. I was bowled over when I met Jack. I could just tell what a good guy he is: a leader. They've been great additions. Kai O’Donnell had only played four NRL games and people thought it was a risk.
"But having watched a lot of his reserve games, I could tell the English game would really suit him. He’s been a revelation. Ricky Leutele’s been unbelievable and Gaz O’Brien - released from Castleford - has been one of if not the best full-backs in the comp’.”
Recruiting Zak Hardaker could have backfired given some of the ex-England star’s previous indiscretions but he’s been brilliant at centre. Chester explained: “Me and Lammy met him up at Ainley Top and I said ‘mate, we just can’t afford any issues.’
"And he gave us his word we wouldn’t have any. It’s been a clean slate for everyone who’s come in. From day one, it’s just about working hard. Everyone has bought in and a lot of that’s been down to Lammy.
"I have a fantastic relationship with Lammy. He’ll say 'what about this player or that player?' We’ve got a salary cap, obviously, and budget we need to stick to. But it’s a good role. I look back and wish I’d have had somebody to help take that pressure off at Wakefield. Back then, it was me and (chairman) Michael Carter doing everything.
"But here, all Lammy needs to do is coach the players and get them ready for the weekend. I'm the guy in between Derek and the board and Lammy and I have to filter things down that I feel are really important.
"I don't do any coaching. I do sit with Lammy on game day but I just offer thoughts. and any observations. It works well."
And now Leigh are at Wembley for the first time since Hall of Famer Alex Murphy famously lifted the Cup- after beating Leeds in 1971. Chester said: “The town’s absolutely buzzing. We’ll probably take 20 to 25,000 to Wembley. The town’s only got a population of about 45,000 so we could be taking more than half of it down there.
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"It's nice for the fans. And great for Derek. He’s always wanted to walk the players out at Wembley. We’re playing well and we just need a bit of luck leading into the final as there's two league games before we get there. We just need to stay injury free. And it’s anybody’s."
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