If it wasn’t for Adrian Lam, Leigh Leopards star Umyla Hanley could well be working on a building site. Now, he is one of Super League’s best centres.

The 2025 Dream Team member came ever so close to giving up on the professional game, with his exit from Wigan Warriors signalling a potential end to an untapped career at the top level.

Hanley has revealed all on how his exit came about, and how a second chance from Lam has reignited his career for the better.

A guest post-match on Sky Sports following the Leopards’ win over Hull FC, the 24-year-old was asked whether he saw a future in the game when Wigan decided to part ways with him at the end of 2022.

He said: “Not really, no. I think when I was at Wigan, when I was a young kid watching Sam (Tomkins) and growing up, I absolutely loved it.

“I loved the game with every bone in my body, but it got to the point where you go from academy or amateur being the best player, and you come up, and you don’t realise (the gap).

“I feel like I kind of had to mature a little bit and I didn’t understand that when I was younger, so I kind of fell out of love with the game.”

That’s where Lam stepped in.

“I didn’t really have a club to go to after Wigan and luckily enough, Lammy rang me,” Hanley explained.

“I didn’t have a club so I had to sort something out and get paid somehow.

“…Lammy gave me my debut at Wigan, and he gave me it here, so he’s done a lot for me.”

Hanley had already bought his new gear to start working on a building site, steel-toe caps and a hi-viz jacket, but he would end up not needing them, with the Leopards welcoming him with open arms.

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Leigh Leopards star eyes England World Cup spot

Now, 63 Leigh appearances later, Hanley, when on top form, is undoubtedly one of the best centres in the competition.

He missed out on representing England against Australia in the autumn, and that is something he hopes to rectify at the end of this season.

“I think it’s on every English player’s horizon, so hopefully I can get a call, but I’m just trying to go week for week and try and play my best rugby,” he explained.

“Form-wise, I feel I’m picking up now, and I’m hoping we [Leigh] can all build on that.”