Adrian Lam

Easts halfback was granted special dispensation to play for Queensland in the 1995 State of Origin series despite being captain of the Papua New Guinea national team. Lam was born on the New Guinea island of Rabual but was raised in Brisbane from the age of 7. In 1994, the year in which he made his Sydney first grade debut for Easts, he represented the Kumuls against France and NZ. Following the signing of I’warra halfback John Simon for the 1996 season Lam threatened to quit Easts in 1995 but his great form brought him to the attention of interstate selectors struggling to name a Maroons’ quad following the banning of Super League players. Lam justified his selection with a dominant display in Queensland’s 3-0 win over NSW and he later captained Papua New Guinea in the World Cup. As an ARL-signed player, he was not permitted to play for his country in the World Nines in 1996 and was again used in the State of Origin series. At club level, the showdown with John Simon did not eventuate with Simon relegated to reserve grade before shifting to P’matta. In 1996 Lam captained Papua New Guinea and was his country’s only try-scorer in the 52-6 loss to Australia. The following year, during the Super League split, he led the ‘Rest of the World’ to a 28-8 loss against Australia. A clever playmaker who did not shirk the modern game’s gruelling defensive load his continued selection for Queensland was again questioned when he was named Maroons’ captain following the premature retirement of Allan Langer in 1999. Sydney City went so far as to protest his selection in the deciding match of the series, arguing that he was injured and should not have been allowed to play. (The Roosters subsequently stood him down from club commitments until he was fit.) Lam continued to be a match-winner at State of Origin level but following the Roosters’ loss to Brisbane in the 2000 grand final he left the club to join Wigan. After captaining Papua New Guinea in the 2000 World Cup he was a member of the Wigan team that contested the Challenge Cup Final in 2004.