ADRIAN Lam returned to pick up the reins as Leigh Leopards’ head coach this week and immediately dropped a major hint about his future.

Lam was Super League’s coach of the year in 2022, guiding Leigh to a first Challenge Cup final win since 1971 plus a maiden Super League play-off appearance.

Owner Derek Beaumont recently spoke of retaining his coach’s services beyond the end of next year when Lam’s contract runs out.

Now the popular Papua New Guinean is poised to open dialogue about longer term goals.

“I would like to be here as long as I can, doing what I can to help bring success to the club and the town,” Lam told Journal sport.

“I have loved my time here and Derek is such a passionate owner. What he has brought to the club and the town has been unbelievable.

“I do have a great working relationship with him. And in the next couple of weeks I will talk to him about my future and what is in plan for both of us. I am really excited about it.”

That enthusiasm has been further boosted by the signing of former Australian Test and New South Wales State of Origin half back Matt Moylan due to arrive in the UK on Friday.

“With Derek driving us and working together with Chris Chester and Neil Jukes with a five-year plan in mind, we have got to keep rotating the squad until we feel we have the exact right people in place,” added Lam.

“Matt is 32 but he is not coming over here for an easy time. He is here to make us better and his game smart will take us to another level.

“Matt is a laid-back sort of guy during the week but once he crosses the white line he is the ultimate competitor.”

Leigh had previously been linked with Anthony Milford and Brodie Croft as a new partner for Lachlan Lam.

“We have had Matty in our minds for a while,” revealed Lam. “At the time we spoke to him he had his sights set on another 12 months in the NRL.

“So, I had to go and meet him in person to convince him it was the right thing to come over and join our club which is a club on the up.

“We were one of the better attacking teams last season and Matt can help is develop that moving forward.”

*After a maiden Magic Weekend victory over Wakefield last season, Leigh will switch from Newcastle to Leeds when trying to double their tally next year.

Instead of St James’ Park, the Leopards will open day two of the 2024 event against Salford at Elland Road on August 18.

Due to the Challenge Cup final switching to June, the two-day League fest couldn’t return to the North East in August, hence a ground change to West Yorkshire.

The other games are: Saturday- Hull FC v London Broncos, Wigan v St Helens, Warrington v Leeds; Sunday: Leigh v Salford, Catalans v Hull KR, Huddersfield v Castleford.