Laz’s appetite for a Super League debut-potentially against Castleford at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday-was whetted by Leigh’s Magic Weekend win over Warrington at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Now, the former Melbourne Storm Grand Finalist is keen to play his part in rejuvenated Leopards’ push for the best possible end of regular season ranking.
“I am available,” said the 27-year-old prop. “I am just trying to get over jet lag but everything else is pretty good.
“I am pretty much fit and happy to be up for selection but that’s down to Lammy (head coach Adrian Lam).
“If I do get to play I will be keen and put my best foot forward for the team and the boys.”
Samoan international star Vaalepu touched down last Friday and joined his new teammates on the banks of the Mersey 24 hours later.
“It was a top tier performance,” he added of an impressive 24-6 success over second placed Wire.
“They said it was probably the best one this season. So, it made me keen to join in and add what I can bring to the team.
“And what I can bring is a big body, powerful running and hard work and effort in defence.
“I got a chance to be in the changing rooms, watched their warm up, meet the boys properly and how they do their prep. The crowd and atmosphere were mad.”
Vaalepu has signed an 18-month deal with Leopards and said the move caught him a little by surprise.
“It has been a quick one. I had been trying to find another (NRL) club to go to but Leigh were the keenest.
“They showed how much they wanted to be part of the club. But I didn’t think I would be here so soon.
“If I am honest, I wasn’t thinking of coming over here for another few years. I still wanted to be in the NRL.
“But when it happened I decided to take it as a leap of faith to set myself up on the top stage again.”
Leigh fans contributed to a record-breaking Magic Weekend. A total of 82,925 supporters watched the seven games, including 5,483 at Castres where Toulouse Olympique overwhelmed Catalans Dragons.
It broke the previous best of 68,276 set at Newcastle’s St James’ Park in 2016 though only six matches took place. As a result, Magic will return to Hill Dickinson on May 1 and 2 in 2027.
Leopards’ latest win still wasn’t sufficient to lift them into the top six as they stayed seventh, two points behind St Helens and Hull KR.
Castleford are ninth and when the sides met last month Leigh ran out 24-14 winners.
Former Leopards Liam Hood and Darnell McIntosh are unavailable through injury.
*Ex Leigh favourite Kai O’Donnell has been linked with a shock return to LSV next season. He is out of contract with North Queensland Cowboys at the end of the season and is weighing up his options for 2027.
