Lachlan Lam
{{Short description|English international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Lachlan Lam
|fullname =
|nickname =
|image = Lachlan Lam.jpg
|image_size = 285
|caption =
|position = {{rlp|SH|SO}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|3|25|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
|death_date =
|death_place =
|height = {{convert|178|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|84|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|club1 = Sydney Roosters
|year1start = 2019
|year1end = 21
|appearances1 = 31
|tries1 = 3
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 12
|club2 = Leigh Leopards
|year2start = 2022
|year2end = present
|appearances2 = 82
|tries2 = 23
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 1
|points2 = 93
|teamA = {{nowrap|{{rlnt|Papua New Guinea}}}}
|yearAstart = 2017
|yearAend = present
|appearancesA = 13
|triesA = 8
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 32
| teamB = {{nowrap|PNG Prime Minister's XIII}}
| yearBstart = 2018
| yearBend =
| appearancesB = 1
| triesB = 0
| goalsB = 0
| fieldgoalsB = 0
| pointsB = 0
| new = yes
| source = {{cite web|title=Lachlan Lam - Career Stats & Summary|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/lachlan-lam/summary.html|website=Rugby League Project}}{{cite web|title=Lachlan Lam|url=http://www.roosters.com.au/team/profiles/lachlan_lam.html|website=roosters.com.au|access-date=25 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119183043/http://www.roosters.com.au/team/profiles/lachlan_lam.html|archive-date=19 November 2017|url-status=dead}}
| updated = 23 April 2025
| module = {{infobox person
| embed = yes
| father = Adrian Lam
| mother =
| spouse =
| education =
| alma_mater =
| relatives =
}}
}}
Lachlan Lam (born 25 March 1998) is a Papua New Guinea international rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|sh}} or {{rlp|so}} for Leigh Leopards in the Super League.
He previously played for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Background
Lam was born and raised in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He is of Papua New Guinean, Chinese and English descent through his father Adrian, a former professional rugby league player who represented {{rlnt|Papua New Guinea}} and Queensland.
Playing career
=Youth Career=
Lam grew up playing junior rugby league for the Clovelly Crocodiles and attended Marcellin College.
When his father played for the Wigan Warriors, Lam played as a junior for Wigan St Patricks.[https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/adrian-lam-leigh-centurions-promotion-super-league/ Adrian Lam on Leigh promotion, 2023 goals, quota spots & reshuffling squad]
Lam has been in the Sydney Roosters' youth system since he was 13, playing for their Harold Matthews Cup and S. G. Ball Cup teams.{{cite web|last=Thompson|first=Sean|date=7 September 2016|title=Sydney Roosters NYC halfback Lachlan Lam takes time to work with juniors at Clovelly Crocs|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/wentworth-courier/nrl-sydney-roosters-nyc-halfback-lachlan-lam-takes-time-to-work-with-juniors-at-clovelly-crocs/news-story/0e962af65150ff4db4253b9eb6927db9|work=Daily Telegraph|access-date=20 October 2017}} In 2014, Lam became the first player to utilise the 'father-son rule' introduced a year prior when he was selected to represent the Queensland under-16s team.{{cite web|last=Garry|first=Chris|date=9 May 2014|title=Lachlan Lam is the first player to represent his state through the father-son Origin rule|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/lachlan-lam-is-the-first-player-to-represent-his-state-through-the-fatherson-origin-rule/news-story/ddca6fe0e3a1b140fd844393b7a2595a|work=Daily Telegraph|access-date=25 October 2017}}{{cite web|last=Walter|first=Brad|date=13 June 2016|title=The eligibility rule delivering Queensland more NSW-bred players|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/state-of-origin-2016-the-eligibility-rule-delivering-queensland-more-nswbred-players-20160612-gphj07.html|url-access=limited|work=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=25 October 2017}}
Having made his NYC debut in 2016, Lam was the first choice {{rlp|fe}} for the Roosters in 2017.{{cite web|title=L|url=https://nycdatabase.org/players/l/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616162758/http://nycdatabase.org/players/l/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=16 June 2015|publisher=NYC Database|access-date=25 October 2017}}{{cite web|title=Sydney Roosters - 2017|url=https://nycdatabase.org/teams/sydney-roosters/seasons/nyc2017/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035947/https://nycdatabase.org/teams/sydney-roosters/seasons/nyc2017/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=1 December 2017|website=NYC Database|access-date=19 November 2017}} In October, he was named in Papua New Guinea's squad for the 2017 World Cup.{{cite web|last=Walter|first=Brad|date=4 October 2017|title=Lachlan Lam following in his father's footsteps with PNG|url=http://www.rlwc2017.com/news/lachlan-lam-following-his-fathers-footsteps-png|website=RLWC2017.com|access-date=20 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007113923/http://www.rlwc2017.com/news/lachlan-lam-following-his-fathers-footsteps-png|archive-date=7 October 2017}}{{cite web|date=5 October 2017|title=Lam makes Kumuls|url=http://www.thenational.com.pg/lam-makes-kumuls/|work=The National|access-date=20 October 2017}} Lam made his Test debut against the United States on 12 November, becoming Kumul #283.{{cite web|last=Taule|first=Troy|date=7 November 2017|title=Marum makes changes for USA clash|url=http://www.looppng.com/sport/marum-makes-changes-usa-clash-69179|work=Loop PNG|access-date=7 November 2017}}
=Sydney Roosters=
In Round 2 of the 2019 season, Lam made his first grade debut for the Sydney Roosters against Manly-Warringah at Brookvale Oval.{{cite web|last=Nicolussi|first=Christian|date=22 March 2019|title='It's been a dream of his for so long': Lam's tears as son makes debut|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/it-s-been-a-dream-of-his-for-so-long-lam-s-tears-as-son-makes-debut-20190322-p516rl.html/|url-access=limited|work=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=8 April 2019}} On 7 April 2019, Lam scored a hat-trick for the North Sydney Bears against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in a 42–0 victory at North Sydney Oval.{{cite web|date=8 April 2019|title=Lachlan Lam Stars For Dominant Bears|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2019/04/08/lachlan-lam-stars-for-dominant-bears/|website=roosters.com.au|access-date=8 April 2019}}
On 30 September 2019, Lam was named in the Papua New Guinea team for the Downer World Cup 9s.
He made seven appearances for the Roosters in the 2020 NRL season as the club fell short of a third successive premiership. Lam played a total of 20 games for them in the 2021 NRL season including the club's two finals matches. The Roosters would be eliminated from the second week of the finals losing to Manly 42–6.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/09/16/they-dont-rate-us-how-injury-toll-eased-pressure-for-revitalised-roosters/|title='They don't rate us': How injury toll eased pressure for revitalised Roosters|website=www.nrl.com|date=16 September 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-17/nrl-manly-sea-eagles-defeat-sydney-roosters-in-semi-final/100472900/|title=Manly Sea Eagles hammer Sydney Roosters 42-6 to advance to NRL preliminary finals|newspaper=ABC News|date=17 September 2021}}
=Leigh Leopards=
On 21 July 2022, Lam signed a two-year deal to join RFL Championship side Leigh until the end of 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/leigh-pull-off-major-coup-with-lachlan-lam-signing/|title=Leigh pull off major coup with Lachlan Lam signing|website=www.loverugbyleague.com}}
Lam scored a try on debut for Leigh against Featherstone Rovers and setup one for team-mate Joe Wardle at the 2022 Summer Bash in Leeds.{{cite web|url=https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/talking-points-leigh-extend-lead-202422897.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEPD1iI9s6LIEHHRPKZ_MbtYUOYsn3u8Rhyw1GGi1WVdoYphzGsD3N5cd_xyoUJMaAA-SD_wq5Fu8abO0zONZAI2Z_yqlza5Bq03A9Qbp57gIJawYJZcqvOCdy8lNqok-SSDLShfigfgtw_si40DvL-TBTAxOoKYd3uwpA-16iPf |title=Leigh extend at top of Championship with dominant victory over rivals |publisher=Yahoo Sports (via Love Rugby League) |first=Josh |last=McCallister |date=31 July 2022}}
On 3 October 2022, Lam played for Leigh in their Championship Grand Final victory over Batley which saw the club promoted back to the Super League.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/12710793/leigh-44-12-batley-centurions-seal-super-league-return-with-deserved-win-in-championship-grand-final/|title=Leigh 44-12 Batley: Centurions seal Super League return with deserved win in Championship Grand Final|website=www.skysports.com}} On 12 August 2023, Lam kicked the winning drop goal one minute into golden point extra-time for Leigh in the 2023 Challenge Cup Final against Hull Kingston Rovers, after the match finished 16–16 at full time. Lam also won the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/66463438/|title=Challenge Cup final: Hull KR 16-17 Leigh Leopards - Leigh claim first Wembley final win in 52 years|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}
Lam played 28 games for Leigh in the 2023 Super League season as the club finished fifth on the table and qualified for the playoffs. He played in their elimination playoff loss against Hull Kington Rovers.{{cite web|url=https://leighleopards.co.uk/leigh-leopards-2023-in-review/#:~:text=Overall%20playing%20record%3A,For%20694%2C%20Against%20580./|title=Leigh Leopards 2023 season in review|website=www.leighleopards.co.uk}}
Lam played 28 games for Leigh in the 2024 Super League season which saw the club finish fifth on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/live-blog/12204/13227859/super-league-semi-finals-live-wigan-face-leigh-for-grand-final-spot/|title=Super League semi-finals: Wigan Warriors cruise past Leigh Leopards- live commentary and video clips|website=www.skysports.com}}
Honours
=Leigh Leopards=
- Challenge Cup
- Winners (1): 2023
- RFL Championship
- Winners (1): 2022
- RFL Championship Leaders' Shield
- Winners (1): 2022
=Individual=
- Super League Dream Team
- Winners (1): 2023
- RLWBA Player of the Year:
- Winners (1): 2023
- Lance Todd Trophy
- Winners (1): 2023
Statistics
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !FGs !Pts |
| 2019
| rowspan="3" |{{Leagueicon|Sydney}} Sydney Roosters |4 | | | |
| 2020
|7 | | | |
| 2021
|20 |3 | |12 |
| 2022
| rowspan="4" |{{leagueicon|Leigh|16}} Leigh Leopards |9 |4 | |16 |
| 2023
|32 |10 |1 |41 |
| 2024
|30 |6 | |24 |
| 2025
|17 |4 | |16 |
| |Totals
|113 |26 |1 |105 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20220615025203/https://www.roosters.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/sydney-roosters/lachlan-lam/ Sydney Roosters profile]
- [http://www.rlwc2017.com/players?team=378#Lachlan-Lam 2017 RLWC profile]
{{Leigh Centurions squad}}
{{Leigh - 2023 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Lance Todd Trophy winners}}
{{Papua New Guinea 2017 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{Papua New Guinea 2021 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lam, Lachlan}}
Category:Australian people of Papua New Guinean descent
Category:Australian people of Chinese descent
Category:Australian people of English descent
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Lance Todd Trophy winners
Category:Leigh Leopards players
Category:North Sydney Bears NSW Cup players
Category:Papua New Guinea national rugby league team captains
Category:Papua New Guinea national rugby league team players
Category:People educated at Marcellin College Randwick
Category:PNG Prime Minister's XIII players
Category:Rugby league five-eighths
Category:Rugby league players from Sydney