Rugby League News: Leigh Leopards Add Powerhouse Storm Forward
The Leigh Leopards have bolstered their pack with the addition of Melbourne Storm forward Aaron Pene, who will join the club until the end of the 2026 season. This timely signing comes as Leigh navigates a period of key injury concerns, including to forwards Robbie Mulhern and captain John Asiata.
Pene’s arrival is expected to provide a significant boost to Adrian Lam’s squad, with the Australian prop set to be available for the upcoming trip to face Leeds Rhinos after securing the necessary visa.
What Can Leigh Fans Expect from Their New Recruit?
Pene has often featured prominently in NRL statistics, though this is partly due to his position at the front of the alphabetical list. Nonetheless, he is a player that Storm coach Craig Bellamy has signed twice, first picking him from the Queensland Cup and then bringing him back from an unsuccessful stint with the New Zealand Warriors.
“Standing at 6″2 and weighing 17 stones, Pene has shown decent productivity in the NRL, averaging close to ten metres per run last year. However, he has struggled at times with winning the floor and breaking tackles.”
Where Pene excels is in his work rate, with impressive Off Ball Volume (OBV) and Involvement Rate, which measure his support play and overall impact per minute as a substitute.
The challenge for Pene will be to scale up his game and make a greater impact over an increased playing time at Leigh. If he can translate his strong bench contributions into a more substantial role, the Leopards may have a valuable asset on their hands in the quest for Super League success.
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