View source for Adrian Lam

{{Short description|Papua New Guinea rugby league coach and former international}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
| new = yes
| name         = Adrian Lam
| fullname     = 
| image        = Adrian Lam Wigan.jpg
| image_size   = 
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1970|8|25|df=y}}
| birth_place  = [[Rabaul, Papua New Guinea]]
| death_date   =
| height       = {{convert|1.75|m|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| weight       = {{convert|76|kg|stlb|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| position     = {{rlp|SH}}
| club1        = [[Sydney Roosters]]
| year1start   = 1994
| year1end     = 00
| appearances1 = 146
| tries1       = 42
| goals1       = 0
| fieldgoals1  = 6
| points1      = 174
| club2        = [[Wigan Warriors]]
| year2start   = 2001
| year2end     = 04
| appearances2 = 119
| tries2       = 44
| goals2       = 3
| fieldgoals2  = 10
| points2      = 192
| teamA        = [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Papua New Guinea]]
| yearAstart   = 1994
| yearAend     = 00
| appearancesA = 11
| triesA       = 3
| goalsA       = 0
| fieldgoalsA  = 1
| pointsA      = 13
| teamB = [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland]]
| yearBstart = 1995
| yearBend = 00
| appearancesB = 14
| triesB = 4
| goalsB = 0
| fieldgoalsB = 0
| pointsB = 16
|teamC          = [[Papua New Guinea National Rugby League|P.N.G. Palais]]
|yearCstart     = 1996
|yearCend       = 
|appearancesC   = 1
|triesC         = 0
|goalsC         = 0
|fieldgoalsC    = 0
|pointsC        = 0
| teamD         = Rest of the World
| yearDstart    = 1997
| yearDend      =
| appearancesD  = 1
| triesD        = 0
| goalsD        = 0
| fieldgoalsD   = 0
| pointsD       = 0
|coachteamA          = [[PNG Prime Minister's XIII|PNG PM's XIII]]
|coachyearAstart      = 2006
|coachyearAend       = 09
|coachgamesA         = 4
|coachwinsA          = 0
|coachdrawsA         = 1
|coachlossesA        = 3
| coachteamB      = [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Papua New Guinea]]
| coachyearBstart = 2006
| coachyearBend   = 09
| coachgamesB     = 12
| coachwinsB      = 5
| coachdrawsB     = 0
| coachlossesB    = 7
|coachteamC          = [[PNG Prime Minister's XIII|PNG PM's XIII]]
|coachyearCstart      = 2011
|coachyearCend       = 13
|coachgamesC         = 3
|coachwinsC          = 0
|coachdrawsC         = 0
|coachlossesC        = 3
|coachteamD          = {{nowrap|[[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Papua New Guinea]]}}
|coachyearDstart     = 2012
|coachyearDend       = 15
|coachgamesD         = 3
|coachwinsD          = 0
|coachdrawsD         = 0
|coachlossesD        = 3
|coachteam1          = [[Wigan Warriors]]
|coachyear1start     = 2019
|coachyear1end       = 21
|coachgames1         = 65
|coachwins1          = 43
|coachdraws1         = 0
|coachlosses1        = 22
| coachteam2         = {{nowrap|[[Leigh Leopards]]}}
| coachyear2start    = 2021
| coachyear2end      = present
| coachgames2        = 97
| coachwins2         = 69
| coachdraws2        = 1
| coachlosses2       = 27
|retired             = no
|source              = <ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/adrian-lam/summary.html| title = RLP Coaching}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Adrian_Lam.html|title=Adrian Lam - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|website=www.rugbyleagueproject.com}}</ref>
|updated             = 18 November 2021 
| module       = {{infobox person
| embed        = yes
| father       = 
| mother       = 
| spouse       = 
| education    = 
| alma_mater   = 
| relatives    = [[Lachlan Lam]] (son)
}}
}}

'''Adrian Lam''' (born 25 August 1970) is a Papua New Guinean professional [[rugby league]] coach, and former player, who is currently the [[head coach]] of the [[Super League]] club [[Leigh Leopards]].

He played for the [[Sydney Roosters]] in the [[National Rugby League]] and the [[Wigan Warriors]] in the [[Super League]]. He represented {{rlnt|Papua New Guinea}}<!--(#163)-->, [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland]] [[State of Origin series|State of Origin]] team and the Rest of the World team.

He was the head coach of Papua New Guinea between 2007 and 2012. He was assistant coach for Australia in the [[2021 Rugby League World Cup|2021 World Cup]].

==Background==
Lam was born 25 August 1970 in [[Rabaul]], Papua New Guinea. His mother was from [[Liverpool]] and migrated to Australia as a child. She met Lam's father, a Chinese-Papua New Guinean, in Rabaul. The family moved to [[Brisbane]] in the [[Australia]]n state of [[Queensland]] when Lam was seven.<ref>{{cite web | last = Hadfield | first = Dave | title = Island gods high in a dream world | work = [[The Independent]]| date = 8 October 1995 | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/island-gods-high-in-a-dream-world-1576603.html | access-date = 6 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Wilkinson| first = Phil| title = Wigan Warriors boss Adrian Lam has close ties to Liverpool - his mum is from Anfield! | work = [[Wigan Today]] | publisher = wigantoday.net | date = 22 May 2019 | url = https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors/wigan-warriors-boss-adrian-lam-has-close-ties-liverpool-his-mum-anfield-690654 | access-date = 16 February 2020}}</ref>

==Playing career==
Lam had a fertile career with 14 [[State of Origin series|State of Origin]] football matches for [[Queensland Maroons|Queensland]], including a man-of-the-match performance in the third game of the 1995 series. He made his Test début for [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Papua New Guinea]] in 1994 and went on to win 11 caps, scoring 3 tries and kicking 1 field goal. In 1996, he captained the 'Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Team' against Australia. In 1997, he captained the 'Rest of the World' team against Australia. He captained the Kumuls to the quarter finals in the [[2000 Rugby League World Cup]]. He played at halfback for the [[Sydney Roosters]] in their [[2000 NRL Grand Final]] defeat by the [[Brisbane Broncos]].{{cn|date=March 2023}}

He played a total of 146 club games for the [[Sydney Roosters]], scoring 42 tries and kicking 6 field goals, as well as 119 first team games for [[Wigan Warriors]], scoring 44 tries, kicking 1 goal and 10 field goals, including a try in their [[2001 Super League Grand Final]] defeat by the [[Bradford Bulls]].

Lam is one of only a few players to have played State of Origin for Queensland and for a country other than Australia. He is also the only player to be captain of a Queensland side and captain of a national team other than Australia.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/programmes/champions-of-the-pacific/audio/2018787550/adrian-lam-and-the-day-the-kumul-tamed-the-kangaroo | title=Adrian Lam and the day the Kumul tamed the Kangaroo | website=[[Radio New Zealand]] | date=15 March 2021 }}</ref>  

==Coaching career==
[[File:Adrian Lam.jpg|thumb|left|Lam in 2012]]
Lam became coach of [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Papua New Guinea Kumuls]] national rugby league team in 2007, and was in charge for their [[2008 Rugby League World Cup]] campaign.<ref name="PNG name preliminary squad">{{cite web|url=http://www.rlwc08.com/news/news/archive/2008/08/03/png-name-preliminary-squad.aspx |title=PNG name preliminary squad |publisher=RLWC.com |date=1 August 2008 |access-date=6 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410150913/http://www.rlwc08.com/news/news/archive/2008/08/03/png-name-preliminary-squad.aspx |archive-date=10 April 2010}}</ref> He quit as [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Kumuls]]' coach in 2009 after a dispute with the [[Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League]].  

In June 2007 he was appointed inaugural coach of the new [[Queensland Rugby League|QRL]] [[Queensland Cup|Wizard Queensland Cup]] [[Northern Pride RLFC|Northern Pride]] team based in [[Cairns, Queensland|Cairns]]. However, three months later he was offered the position of assistant coach at the [[NRL]] [[Sydney Roosters]] under their new coach [[Brad Fittler]]. Lam was released and he left [[Cairns, Queensland|Cairns]] for [[Sydney]] before the [[Northern Pride RLFC|Pride's]] first game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forums.rleague.com/printthread.php?t=27037&pp=50&page=3|title=NRL swoops on Pride's top gun}}{{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=medic}}</ref>

In 2009 he moved to the [[St. George Illawarra Dragons]] as assistant coach under [[Wayne Bennett (rugby league)|Wayne Bennett]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/lam-organising-sowards-game/story-e6frfgbo-1225809525390| title = Reference at www.heraldsun.com.au}} </ref>
Lam became the coach of the [[St George-Illawarra Dragons]] Under 20s team in 2010 and 2011. He returned as coach of Papua New Guinea in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/international-rugby-league-features/194-papua-new-guinea-rugby-league/639-adrian-lam-returns-to-assist-as-png-pmxiii-squad-is-announced|title=Rugby League Planet - Adrian Lam returns to assist as PNG PMXIII squad is announced|website=www.rugbyleagueplanet.com}}</ref>

Lam returned to [[Wigan Warriors]] in 2019 as interim Head Coach and later in 2019 made his spell as Wigan coach full time as he signed for another year after [[Shaun Edwards]] opted not to join Wigan for 2020.  In 2020, Lam coached Wigan to the [[League Leaders Shield]] and guided them to the [[2020 Super League Grand Final]] against St Helens where Wigan lost 8-4 after a try scored by the Saints following the full-time siren.  Lam was seen openly crying during the post match interviews.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55072997/|title=Super League Grand Final: Wigan 4-8 St Helens|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>
In round 20 of the [[2021 Super League season]], Wigan were defeated at the [[DW Stadium]] by [[St Helens RFC|St Helens]] 2-26 under Lam's coaching. It was the first time in the club's history, since moving to the DW Stadium in 1999, that they had failed to score a single try.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/58287751/|title=Wigan Warriors 2-26 St Helens|website=www.bbc.co.uk|date=20 August 2021}}</ref>
The following week, in Round 21, Wigan were beaten at home by [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] 0-14, and this was the first time in Super League era that Wigan had been held scoreless at home.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/58336795/|title=Wigan Warriors 0-14 Leeds Rhinos|website=www.bbc.co.uk|date=25 August 2021}}</ref>
On 31 August 2021 after a number of poor results, Lam announced that he would be leaving Wigan at the end of the [[Super League XXVI|2021 season]], after three seasons in charge.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/58400279/|title=Adrian Lam to leave Wigan Warriors at the end of the season|website=www.bbc.co.uk|date=31 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12215/12395984/adrian-lam-wigan-warriors-head-coach-to-leave-at-end-of-2021-super-league-season/|title= Wigan Warriors head coach to leave at end of 2021 Super League season|website=www.skysports.com}}</ref>
Lam's final game in charge of Wigan came in the first week of the 2021 Playoffs Series against [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] where Wigan lost 8-0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/sep/23/ash-handleys-try-for-leeds-enough-to-see-off-lacklustre-wigan/|title=Ash Handley's try for Leeds enough to see off lacklustre Wigan|website=www.theguardian.com|date=23 September 2021}}</ref>
On 17 November 2021, Lam was announced as head coach of [[RFL Championship|Betfred Championship]] side [[Leigh Centurions]], replacing interim head coach [[Kurt Haggerty]].<ref>{{cite web|website=BBC Sport|date=17 Nov 2021|accessdate=18 Nov 2021|title=Adrian Lam: Leigh Centurions appoint former Wigan boss as new head coach|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/59321326}}</ref>
On 3 October 2022, Lam coached Leigh in their [[Million Pound Game]] victory over [[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]] which saw the club promoted back to the [[Super League]].  Lam achieved the double in his first full season as Leigh coach as the club also won the [[RFL 1895 Cup]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

On 12 August 2023, Lam guided Leigh to victory in the 2023 Challenge Cup final against [[Hull Kingston Rovers]]. It was Leigh's first major trophy in 52 years.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
Lam guided Leigh to a fifth placed finish in the 2023 Super League season. Leigh were eliminated in the first week of the playoffs against Hull Kingston Rovers.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Personal life==
He has 2 sons Lachlan Lam and Bailey Lam. His son [[Lachlan Lam]] is a professional rugby player, who represents Papua New Guinea and plays for the [[Leigh Leopards]]. 

In 2010 a court ordered former State of Origin teammate [[Dale Shearer]] to repay approximately $1.5m to Lam for an outstanding loan, which dated back to 2005.<ref>{{Cite news
| last = Elsworthy
| first = Sophie
| title = Former NRL star Dale Shearer ordered to pay former Queensland teammate Adrian Lam $1.5 million over unpaid loan
| work = [[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]
| place = Australia
| publisher = Herald and Weekly Times
| date = 29 November 2010
| url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/former-nrl-star-adrian-lam-sues-former-queensland-teammate-for-15-million/story-e6frfgbo-1225962386969
| access-date = 29 November 2010}}</ref>

==Honours==
===As player===
====Wigan Warriors====
*'''[[Challenge Cup]]'''
**'''Winners (1):''' [[2002 Challenge Cup|2002]]

====Queensland====
*'''[[State of Origin series|State of Origin]]'''
**'''Winners (2):''' [[1995 State of Origin series|1995]], [[1999 State of Origin series|1999]]

====Individual====
*'''[[Super League Dream Team]]'''
**'''Winners (3):''' [[Super League VI|2001]], [[Super League VII|2002]], [[Super League VIII|2003]]
*'''[[Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters' Association|RLWBA]] Player of the Year:'''
**'''Winners (1):''' [[Super League VII|2002]]

===As Head Coach===
====Wigan Warriors====
*'''[[League Leaders' Shield]]'''
**'''Winners (1):''' [[Super League XXV|2020]]

====Leigh Leopards====

*'''[[Challenge Cup]]'''
**'''Winners (1):''' [[2023 Challenge Cup|2023]]

*'''[[RFL Championship]]'''
**'''Winners (1):''' [[2022 RFL Championship|2022]]

*'''[[Championship Leaders' Shield]]'''
**'''Winners (1):''' [[2022 RFL Championship|2022]]

*'''[[RFL 1895 Cup]]'''
**'''Winners (1):''' [[2022 RFL Championship|2022]]

====Individual====
*'''Super League Coach of the Year'''
**'''Winners (1):''' [[Super League XXVIII|2023]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://www.wiganwarriors.com/teams/coaching-staff/adrian-lam Wigan profile]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071024202017/http://www.stateoforigin.com.au/soogame/PlayerDetails.aspx?Pid=347 Player Details at stateoforigin.com.au]
* ''[http://wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=634 Adrian Lam Wigan Career Page] on the Wigan RL Fansite''.
*[http://www.wigan-warriors.com/wigan/?s=Player&o=10093 Wigan Warriors profile]
*[http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Park/4931/Profiles/AdrianLam/Adrian.html Adrian Lam profile] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20091027155729/http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Park/4931/Profiles/AdrianLam/Adrian.html Archived] 2009-10-24)
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/wigan/3993631.stm Lam to take Wigan coaching role]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/rugby_league/features/newsid_2973000/2973987.stm Meet Wigan star Adrian Lam]
*http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/970000/images/_973699_lam150.jpg
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20021112182048/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/scorers/players/Adrian_Lam.html]
*http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/24/1082719678288.html?from=storyrhs

{{Leigh Centurions squad}}
{{Wigan Warriors - 2002 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Leigh - 2023 Challenge Cup Final winners}}

{{Navboxes
|title= Papua New Guinea squads
| bg=yellow
| fg=red
| bordercolor=black
|list1=
{{Papua New Guinea squad 1995 Rugby League World Cup}}
{{Papua New Guinea squad 2000 Rugby League World Cup}}
{{Papua New Guinea 2008 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{Papua New Guinea 2010 Rugby League Four Nations squad}}
{{Papua New Guinea 2013 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
}}
{{1995 RLWC Team of the Tournament}}
{{2001 Super League Dream Team}}
{{2002 Super League Dream Team}}
{{2003 Super League Dream Team}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Coaching positions
|list1=  
{{Leigh Centurions coaches}}
{{Papua New Guinea national rugby league team coaches}}
{{Wigan Warriors coaches}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lam, Adrian}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Papua New Guinean sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century Papua New Guinean sportsmen]]
[[Category:Leigh Leopards coaches]]
[[Category:Northern Pride RLFC coaches]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinea national rugby league team captains]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinea national rugby league team coaches]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinea national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinean emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinean people of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinean people of English descent]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinean rugby league coaches]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinean rugby league players]]
[[Category:People from Matalai]]
[[Category:People from Namatanai]]
[[Category:PNG Prime Minister's XIII coaches]]
[[Category:Queensland Rugby League State of Origin captains]]
[[Category:Queensland Rugby League State of Origin players]]
[[Category:Rugby league halfbacks]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from New Ireland Province]]
[[Category:Sydney Roosters players]]
[[Category:Wigan Warriors coaches]]
[[Category:Wigan Warriors players]]