Season Preview: Huddersfield Giants
Head coach: Paul Anderson
Last season: 1st (Lost to Warrington in qualifying semi-final)
In:
Jodie Broughton (Salford)
Antonio Kaufusi (London)
Chris Bailey (London)
Kyle Wood (Wakefield)
Out:
Jamie Cording (Featherstone)
Matty Dawson (St Helens)
Stuart Fielden (Retired)
Luke George (Bradford)
Dale Ferguson (Bradford)
Squad:
1 Scott Grix FULL BACK
2 Jermaine McGillvary WINGER
3 Leroy Cudjoe CENTRE
4 Joe Wardle CENTRE
5 Aaron Murphy WINGER
6 Danny Brough STAND OFF
7 Luke Robinson HOOKER
8 Eorl Crabtree PROP FORWARD
9 Shaun Lunt HOOKER
10 Craig Kopczak PROP FORWARD
11 Brett Ferres SECOND ROW
12 Jason Chan SECOND ROW
13 Chris Bailey LOOSE FORWARD
14 Michael Lawrence SECOND ROW
15 Larne Patrick SECOND ROW
16 David Faiumu LOOSE FORWARD
17 Ukuma Ta’ai SECOND ROW
18 Kyle Wood HOOKER
19 Jodie Broughton WINGER
20 Antonio Kaufusi PROP FORWARD
28 Kruise Leeming HOOKER
29 Jack Miller FULL BACK
James’ prediction:
4th – After last season’s success, they’ll be on everybody’s radar this year. There’s no reason they can’t replicate last year’s winning formula, but they were fortunate to avoid injuries in key positions last term. Tasting league leaders success may encourage them to focus this year’s efforts on a run in the play-offs.
View from the pitch:
Eorl Crabtree – “We’ve had a tough pre-season due to missing World Cup players, but at the same time everyone is fresh and looking forward to it. The players we have brought in are good players, and have risen to our level.”