Lam was born 25 August 1970 in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. His mother was from Liverpool and migrated to Australia as a child. She met Lam's father, a Chinese-Papua New Guinean, in Rabaul. The family moved to Brisbane in the Australian state of Queensland when Lam was seven.[3][4]
Lam had a fertile career with 14 State of Origin football matches for Queensland, including a man-of-the-match performance in the third game of the 1995 series. He made his Test début for Papua New Guinea in 1994 and went on to win 11 caps, scoring 3 tries and kicking 1 field goal. In 1996, he captained the 'Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Team' against Australia. In 1997, he captained the 'Rest of the World' team against Australia. He captained the Kumuls to the quarter finals in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. He played at halfback for the Sydney Roosters in their 2000 NRL Grand Final defeat by the Brisbane Broncos.[citation needed]
He played a total of 146 club games for the Sydney Roosters, scoring 42 tries and kicking 6 field goals, as well as 119 first team games for Wigan Warriors, scoring 44 tries, kicking 1 goal and 10 field goals, including a try in their 2001 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Bradford Bulls.
Lam is one of only a few players to have played State of Origin for Queensland and for a country other than Australia. He is also the only player to be captain of a Queensland side and captain of a national team other than Australia.[5]
Lam returned to Wigan Warriors in 2019 as interim Head Coach and later in 2019 made his spell as Wigan coach full time as he signed for another year after Shaun Edwards opted not to join Wigan for 2020. In 2020, Lam coached Wigan to the League Leaders Shield and guided them to the 2020 Super League Grand Final against St Helens where Wigan lost 8-4 after a try scored by the Saints following the full-time siren. Lam was seen openly crying during the post match interviews.[10]
In round 20 of the 2021 Super League season, Wigan were defeated at the DW StadiumbySt Helens 2-26 under Lam's coaching. It was the first time in the club's history, since moving to the DW Stadium in 1999, that they had failed to score a single try.[11]
The following week, in Round 21, Wigan were beaten at home by Leeds 0-14, and this was the first time in Super League era that Wigan had been held scoreless at home.[12]
On 31 August 2021 after a number of poor results, Lam announced that he would be leaving Wigan at the end of the 2021 season, after three seasons in charge.[13][14]
Lam's final game in charge of Wigan came in the first week of the 2021 Playoffs Series against Leeds where Wigan lost 8-0.[15]
On 17 November 2021, Lam was announced as head coach of Betfred Championship side Leigh Centurions, replacing interim head coach Kurt Haggerty.[16]
On 3 October 2022, Lam coached Leigh in their Million Pound Game victory over Batley which saw the club promoted back to the Super League. Lam achieved the double in his first full season as Leigh coach as the club also won the RFL 1895 Cup.[17]
On 12 August 2023, Lam guided Leigh to victory in the 2023 Challenge Cup final against Hull Kingston Rovers. It was Leigh's first major trophy in 52 years.[18]
Lam guided Leigh to a fifth placed finish in the 2023 Super League season. Leigh were eliminated in the first week of the playoffs against Hull Kingston Rovers.[19]
He has 2 sons Lachlan Lam and Bailey Lam. His son Lachlan Lam is a professional rugby player, who represents Papua New Guinea and plays for the Leigh Leopards.
In 2010 a court ordered former State of Origin teammate Dale Shearer to repay approximately $1.5m to Lam for an outstanding loan, which dated back to 2005.[20]
