Leigh Leopards are thrilled to announce the two-year contract signing of Ben McNamara from Hull FC. Ben McNamara, the playmaking halfback or hooker who is the son of Catalans Dragons head coach Steve McNamara, has competed in Super League for the past four years.
Adrian Lam, who coached him as a junior, and he will be reunited thanks to his signing with the Leopards. He joined the Sydney Roosters junior teams after rising through the levels of his hometown Hull’s Skirlaugh community club, where his father served as assistant coach. At that time, Lam, who was in charge of coaching the younger teams, was the first person he met.
By signing for the Leopards, he will be reunited with Adrian Lam, who coached him as a junior. After graduating through the ranks of the Skirlaugh community club in his native Hull he was part of the Sydney Roosters junior teams while his father was assistant coach at the NRL club. It was during that time that he first encountered Lam, who was engaged in coaching the junior teams.
“Lammy coached Ben a few years ago at the Roosters and has kept tabs on him,” explained Leopards Head of Rugby Chris Chester. “Ben is a good quality halfback or hooker with a good kicking game. “He’s still very young and he’s a tough competitor. He brings skill and versatility into our squad and having watched him play at Hull FC I’m looking forward to seeing him kick on in his career with our club.
“Ben had a good education in Australia and played his early rugby with one of the best and biggest clubs in the Roosters. I think he will be a good signing. He adds depth to our squad and brings good competition to the halfbacks and nines and I’d expect him to be a regular first team player in 2024.”
Ben McNamara, who will be 22 in December, made a try-scoring debut for Hull FC against Castleford Tigers in October 2020 and made 33 first team appearances for the club, scoring two tries and kicking 23 goals. Ironically his final appearance in the Black and White was in a 28-18 home defeat to his father’s team, Catalans Dragons, in July 2023.
Ben McNamara said: “I would like to thank Adrian, Chris and Derek for the opportunity to play for such a great club and in front of an amazing set of fans. I’m grateful to be joining at such an exciting time off the back of the team’s success in 2023.
I was quite interested in the opportunity to play for Adrian. I concur with his coaching principles, and at this stage of my career, I admire his commitment to player development. I’m also looking forward to playing in the Leopards’ brand of basketball. Their physicality during attack and fluidity while defense has been stunning to witness. I’m looking forward to playing with the wonderful leaders in the playing group because they seem to have a true sense of community.
