LEIGH Leopards head coach Adrian Lam is relishing the prospect of leading his side out in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley after masterminding a stunning fightback to sink St Helens at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Lam's underdogs produced a backs-to-the-wall first half effort before responding with second-half tries by Ollie Holmes and Zak Hardaker then holding out gallantly in the dying stages to book their first trip to Wembley since 1971.
"It's a bit of a dream," admitted Lam. "I played in two Cup finals but not at Wembley.
"It's all about Wembley and I'm getting emotional thinking about it. It will be up there with the biggest moments of my career."
Leigh's fairytale was sealed in the final minute when Saints winger Tommy Makinson strayed a conversion attempt wide to seal a 12-10 win and continue the club's extraordinary success in their first season back among the elite.
"It is an unbelievable day - it went right down to the wire and I'm really happy for the town, the owner, who has invested a lot of money, and for the playing group," added Lam, whose side also currently sit second in the Super League table.
"I was happy it was only 6-0 (at half-time). We worked hard and I felt if we kept the score close at half-time, we'd win the second half. If you're a close bunch of boys you don't want to let each other down."
Leigh will face Hull KR in the final at Wembley on August 12.
Rovers defeated Wigan 11-10 in golden-point extra time in the second semi final at Headingley today.
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