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Edwin Ipape
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Edwin Ipape (born 2 February 1999) is a Papua New Guinean professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for Leigh Leopards in the Super League and Papua New Guinea at international level.[3]
Key Information
Career
[edit]Ipape made his international debut for Papua New Guinea in their 24-6 defeat by Samoa in the 2019 Oceania Cup.[4][5]
Ipape was on a train and trial contract with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles as part of their 2020 pre season.[6] He played two games for the Manly 9s team during the NRL 9s.[7]
On 28 May 2022, Ipape played for the Leigh Centurions in their 2022 RFL 1895 Cup final victory over Featherstone Rovers.[8]
On 3 October 2022, Ipape played for the Leigh Centurions in their Million Pound Game victory over the Batley Bulldogs which saw the club promoted back to the Super League.[9]
In October he was named in the Papua New Guinea squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[10]
In November he was named in the 2021 RLWC Team of the Tournament.[11] On 12 August 2023, Ipape played for Leigh in their 2023 Challenge Cup final victory over Hull Kingston Rovers. It was Leigh's first major trophy in 52 years.[12]
2023
[edit]Ipape played 25 games for Leigh in the 2023 Super League season as the club finished fifth on the table and qualified for the playoffs. He played in their elimination playoff loss against Hull Kingston Rovers.[13]
2024
[edit]Ipape played 19 games for Leigh in the 2024 Super League season which saw the club finish fifth on the table.[14]
2025
[edit]On 24 February 2025, Leigh announced that he had signed a six-year contract extension to remain at Leigh until the end of 2031.[15] Ipape rejected an NRL deal to remain at Leigh.[16] Ipape played 26 games for Leigh in the 2025 Super League season including the clubs semi-final loss to Wigan.[17]
Statistics
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Tries | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 |  PNG Hunters
|
11 | 3 | 12 |
| 2022 |  Leigh Leopards
|
27 | 23 | 92 |
| 2023 | 28 | 8 | 32 | |
| 2024 | 19 | 6 | 28 | |
| 2025 | 2 | |||
| Totals | 80 | 39 | 156 |
source:[18]
References
[edit]- ^ "Player Summary: Edwin Ipape". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club.
- ^ "Edwin Ipape - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
- ^ "Adrian Lam brings Papua New Guinea star to Leigh for 2022". 18 January 2022.
- ^ "Samoa vs Papua New Guinea". Wide World of Sports. 22 June 2019.
- ^ "Young gun Coates named in Kumuls squad". QRL.com. 16 June 2019.
- ^ Keslep, Simon (21 November 2019). "Ipape set for trial with Manly". Post Courier. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ "Sea Eagles team for NRL Nines". Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. February 10, 2020.
- ^ "Featherstone Rovers: 1895 Cup final defeat to Leigh Centurions gives Brian McDermott's side signal of their progress". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk.
- ^ "Leigh 44-12 Batley: Centurions seal Super League return with deserved win in Championship Grand Final". www.skysports.com.
- ^ Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021
- ^ Samoan domination as unlikely halfback earns No.7 jersey: WC Team of the Tournament
- ^ "Challenge Cup final: Hull KR 16-17 Leigh Leopards - Leigh claim first Wembley final win in 52 years". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Leigh Leopards 2023 season in review". www.leighleopards.co.uk.
- ^ "Super League semi-finals: Wigan Warriors cruise past Leigh Leopards- live commentary and video clips". www.skysports.com.
- ^ Chalk, Ethan Lee (2025-02-24). "PNG hooker snubs NRL interest, signs MASSIVE six-year contract". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
- ^ "Edwin Ipape's first words following bumper contract announcement as rejected NRL club revealed". Love Rugby League. 2025-02-23. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
- ^ "3 key areas that saw Leigh Leopards miss out on Old Trafford as Grand Final opportunity passed up". www.loverugbyleague.com.
- ^ "Edwin Ipape - Playing Career - RLP". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
External links
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Edwin Ipape
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Upbringing in Papua New Guinea
Edwin Ipape was born on 2 February 1999 in Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea.[8] His family origins trace back to Hela Province in the Highlands, though he spent his early years in the Western Highlands region.[9] Ipape was raised in Mount Hagen and the nearby Warakum Junction, areas characterized by modest living conditions that shaped his resilient outlook.[10] Coming from humble family circumstances, he experienced a childhood immersed in the everyday challenges and close-knit community dynamics of rural Papua New Guinea, where resources were limited but familial and communal bonds were strong.[10] The local environment fostered a sense of determination, with Ipape later reflecting on these roots as a key motivator for his ambitions.[10] From a young age, Ipape was inspired by the cultural prominence of rugby league in his household and surroundings, with posters of Papua New Guinean stars adorning his bedroom wall in Mount Hagen.[11] This early exposure highlighted the sport's deep significance in his family life, where it served as both entertainment and aspiration amid limited opportunities. Growing up in a rugby-obsessed region, Ipape was surrounded by the vibrant local scene, including the influence of clubs like the Mt Hagen Eagles, which underscored the communal passion for the game in the Western Highlands.[2]Entry into rugby league
Ipape's first exposure to structured rugby league came during his teenage years in Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea, where he grew up playing informal games in local community settings near Warakum Junction.[12] As a child, he often trained barefoot on the streets and used improvised equipment, such as containers filled with grass as balls, reflecting the resource-limited environment that fostered his early passion for the sport.[12] His bedroom walls were adorned with posters of prominent Papua New Guinean rugby league stars like Dion Aiye, Larsen Marape, Jessie Joe Parker, and Menzie Yere, who served as key inspirations shaping his dedication and technique from a young age.[11] Progressing through Papua New Guinea's grassroots rugby league system, Ipape honed his skills in community and local competitions during his youth, including school and neighborhood participation in Mount Hagen.[2] Standing at 175 cm, his physical development emphasized agility and quickness suited to the hooker position, though he initially emerged as a half-back before transitioning to the dummy-half role that defined his style.[3][2] These early experiences, rooted in his humble upbringing in the Western Highlands, built the foundational passion and technical proficiency that propelled him toward higher levels of play.[11]Club career
Pre-Leigh career
Ipape began his professional journey in Australia during the 2020 pre-season, securing a train-and-trial contract with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).[13] This opportunity allowed the 21-year-old Papua New Guinean to train with the NRL club and gain exposure to elite-level preparation.[14] As part of the contract, Ipape featured in two games for the Manly 9s team at the NRL Nines tournament in February 2020, playing off the interchange bench for 18 minutes per match against the North Queensland Cowboys (a 7-10 loss) and Gold Coast Titans (a 24-0 loss).[15] In these appearances, he recorded 39 running metres, one tackle break, one offload, and six tackles, demonstrating his versatility and work rate in the fast-paced nine-a-side format despite the team's defeats.[15] Following the NRL Nines, Ipape signed with the PNG Hunters for the 2021 Queensland Cup season, marking his entry into semi-professional rugby in Australia.[16] He appeared in 11 matches for the Hunters, scoring three tries for a total of 12 points, while contributing across multiple positions including hooker, five-eighth, fullback, and from the bench.[1] Ipape's performances highlighted his emerging hooking prowess, particularly in games where he operated from dummy half. In the Hunters' 44-22 victory over the Ipswich Jets on March 27, 2021, he scored a try in the 62nd minute, capitalizing on quick service to support the team's attacking momentum after a hat-trick from teammate Rodrick Tai.[17] He also touched down in wins against the Mackay Cutters (April 10) and Central Queensland Capras (September 4), showcasing his speed and decision-making under pressure.[18] Defensively, Ipape was reliable in the middle, often making key tackles to stem opposition raids, as seen in his starting role as hooker during the 18-25 loss to the Burleigh Bears on April 25.[18] As a young international player based away from home in Queensland, Ipape faced significant challenges adapting to professional demands, including a disrupted pre-season where the Hunters endured 31 days of quarantine due to COVID-19 protocols, preventing any trial matches and hindering team cohesion.[17] These hurdles tested his resilience amid the cultural and logistical adjustments of competing in Australia, far from his Papua New Guinean roots.[19]Leigh Leopards
Edwin Ipape joined Leigh Centurions in January 2022 ahead of the Betfred Championship season, bringing his experience from the PNG Hunters to bolster the squad under coach Adrian Lam.[20] He made his debut on 20 February 2022 against York City Knights, coming off the bench in a 40-4 victory.[18] Ipape featured in 27 matches that year, scoring 23 tries, and played a pivotal role in Leigh's promotion campaign, including the Championship Grand Final—known as the Million Pound Game—on 2 October 2022, where they defeated Batley Bulldogs 44-12 to secure a return to Super League. He also won the Ray French Trophy as Man of the Match in the 1895 Cup Final that year.[1][21][22] In June 2022, he signed a three-year contract extension, committing to the club until the end of 2025.[23] The 2023 Super League season marked Ipape's adaptation to the top flight, where he appeared in 28 games and scored 8 tries, contributing to Leigh's fifth-place finish and playoff qualification.[24][25] Ipape's dummy-half runs and defensive solidity were instrumental in the club's Challenge Cup success, helping secure a 17-16 win over Hull Kingston Rovers in the final on 12 August 2023 for their first Wembley triumph since 1971.[2] In 2024, Ipape played 19 matches, scoring 6 tries despite injury interruptions, and continued to dominate with explosive carries and offloads that broke defensive lines.[1][26] The 2025 season saw him feature in 29 games with 7 tries, maintaining his status as a top hooker through dominant tackles in key outings.[1][27] On 23 February 2025, Ipape agreed to a six-year extension—the longest in club history—tying him to Leigh Leopards until the end of 2031, with no exit clauses.[5] Over his tenure with Leigh, Ipape has amassed 103 appearances, 44 tries, and 180 points, evolving into a cornerstone hooker whose quick passing and line breaks drive the attack while his tackling efficiency anchors the defense.[1][26]International career
Debut and early matches
Edwin Ipape earned his first international call-up to the Papua New Guinea Kumuls squad for the inaugural 2019 Oceania Cup, selected as one of seven debutants in an inexperienced side drawn primarily from domestic competitions like the Queensland Cup's PNG Hunters.[28] He made his debut on 22 June 2019 against Samoa at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney, starting in the halves alongside Kyle Laybutt in a 6-24 loss.[29][30] Later that year, Ipape represented Papua New Guinea in the Rugby League World Cup 9s tournament in Sydney from 18-20 October, debuting against the USA on 18 October and appearing in three matches overall as a second-rower.[8] In the competition, he contributed 1 goal for 2 points, helping the team reach the quarter-finals before a 20-24 semi-final loss to Tonga.[8] Ipape secured two additional caps during Papua New Guinea's home tests in November 2019 as part of the Great Britain Lions tour, coming off the bench in both fixtures and demonstrating rapid adaptation to the national team's high-pressure environment alongside established players. On 9 November against Fiji at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch, he featured in a narrow 20-22 defeat. A week later on 16 November versus Great Britain at Oil Search National Stadium in Port Moresby, Ipape scored a try in a historic 28-10 victory, marking Papua New Guinea's first win over the touring side. These early appearances highlighted his versatility and quick integration into the Kumuls' dynamics, building on his domestic form despite limited prior exposure to international level.[1]World Cup performances
Ipape represented Papua New Guinea at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, where he made four appearances as the team's primary hooker.[3] Across these matches, he recorded 270 receipts and 131 tackles, demonstrating his work rate in both attack and defense despite not scoring any tries.[3] In the group stage opener against Tonga, Ipape delivered a standout performance in a narrow 24-18 defeat, earning Player of the Match honors for his destructive runs and set-up play, including assisting a try for teammate Lachlan Lam.[31] He followed this with solid contributions in victories over the Cook Islands and Wales, before featuring in the quarter-final loss to England, where his defensive efforts helped limit the scoreline against a dominant opponent.[32] These games highlighted Ipape's role in Papua New Guinea's resilient showings against stronger nations, often relying on his tackling and ball-handling to sustain team momentum amid losses.[33] Ipape's tournament impact was recognized when he was named as the hooker in the official 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup Team of the Tournament, selected by a panel of experts for his consistent excellence and international breakthrough.[34]Later career
Following the World Cup, Ipape continued to feature for the Kumuls in international tournaments. In the 2023 Pacific Championships, he made his return to Test football, appearing against Fiji in the Bowl final on 29 October.[35] In October 2025, Ipape returned from injury for the Pacific Bowl, earning two caps. He played in the 40-28 victory over the Cook Islands, where captain Rhyse Martin praised his "unreal energy" and impactful tackles.[4] In the final against Fiji on 1 November at Oil Search National Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea won 50-18, with Ipape delivering a standout performance, scoring tries and earning Player of the Match honors.[36] These appearances brought his Test caps to 11 as of November 2025.[1]Statistics and achievements
Club achievements
Edwin Ipape contributed to Leigh Centurions' victory in the 2022 RFL 1895 Cup, playing in the final against Featherstone Rovers at Wembley Stadium on 28 May 2022, where Leigh won 30-16; Ipape scored a try and was named man of the match, earning the Ray French Trophy.[37][2] Later that year, Ipape featured in Leigh's Million Pound Game win over Batley Bulldogs on 3 October 2022, securing promotion to the Super League with a 44-12 victory in the Betfred Championship Grand Final at Leigh Sports Village.[38] In 2023, Ipape played a key role in Leigh Leopards' Challenge Cup triumph, their first since 1971, defeating Hull Kingston Rovers 17-16 in the final at Wembley Stadium on 12 August 2023 after extra time; his dynamic performance at hooker helped drive the team's resilient defense and attacking phases during the golden-point decider. He was also selected for the 2023 Super League Dream Team for his outstanding performances.[39][40][2] On 23 February 2025, Ipape signed a six-year contract extension with Leigh Leopards, committing to the club until the end of the 2031 season and marking the longest deal in the club's history, underscoring his integral status amid interest from NRL clubs.[5]International caps
Edwin Ipape has represented Papua New Guinea at senior international level on 11 occasions since his debut in 2019, scoring 3 tries for 12 points in test matches.[1] He has maintained a win rate of approximately 55% across these appearances, with the Kumuls securing victory in 6 of the contests.[1] In addition to full 13-a-side tests, Ipape featured in the 2019 Rugby League World Cup Nines tournament, where he played all 3 games for Papua New Guinea and scored 1 goal to contribute 2 points.[8] In the 2025 Pacific Bowl, Ipape played in both tests, scoring 1 try in the 50-18 final victory over Fiji on 1 November 2025, where he was named Player of the Match. He was nominated for the 2025 IRL Golden Boot on 6 November 2025.[41][42] The following table summarizes Ipape's test match appearances by year:| Year | Caps | Tries | Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 11 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
Club Career Totals
Edwin Ipape has played 114 club games, scoring 47 tries for 188 points.[1]Breakdown by Club
- PNG Hunters (2021, QRL/QLD Cup): 11 appearances, 3 tries, 12 points.[1]
- Leigh Leopards (2022–2025): 103 appearances, 44 tries, 176 points.[1]
Competition Breakdown for Leigh Leopards
| Competition | Appearances | Tries | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super League | 70 | 20 | 80 |
| Challenge Cup | 9 | 1 | 4 |
| 1895 Cup | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Super League Finals | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| UK Second Division | 17 | 22 | 88 |
International Career Totals
Ipape has earned 11 Test caps for Papua New Guinea, scoring 3 tries for 12 points.[1] This includes 4 World Cup appearances with no tries.[1] Adding club totals, his full career stands at 125 appearances, 50 tries, and 200 points.[1]Position-Specific Metrics (Super League)
In Super League play as of the 2025 season, Ipape averages 8.11 meters per carry, with 7 try assists and 15 attacking kicks.[25]Yearly Breakdown
| Year | Club/Team | Appearances | Tries | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | PNG Hunters | 11 | 3 | 12 |
| 2022 | Leigh Leopards | 27 | 23 | 92 |
| 2023 | Leigh Leopards | 28 | 8 | 32 |
| 2024 | Leigh Leopards | 19 | 6 | 24 |
| 2025 | Leigh Leopards | 29 | 7 | 28 |