Huddersfield coach Ian Watson sets Super League play-offs as ‘minimum’ target
The Super League play-offs is the minimum target for Huddersfield coach Ian Watson as he prepares to embark on his second season with the Giants.
Huddersfield finished ninth in 2021 with just 9 wins in the Super League campaign.
But Ian Watson is confident they can kick on in 2022, with play-offs the main objective.
Ian Watson spoke to the press earlier this week
“We want to get to the play-offs for sure. It’s something Huddersfield have not managed to do for a few years,” Watson said.
“I feel we’re better equipped it for it this year so that’s the minimum for us as a group.
“The intensity in training has been through the roof. We’ve been able to do a lot more than we did last year, when Covid was quite fresh and there were a lot of restrictions on what you could do.
“But we know it won’t be easy. All the squads are really competitive this year. It seems like it gets better every year with the quality of player in Super League.”
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Huddersfield add strength to 2022 squad
The Giants have been among the busiest clubs in the close season and Watson was especially delighted to get his hands on veteran England prop Chris Hill from Warrington and experienced half-backs Theo Fages (St Helens) and Tui Lolohea (Salford).
Watson knew what to expect from Fages and Lolohea, having coached both players at his old club. And he has been thrilled with their impact so far.
“We feel that we’ve got a really good balance this year with the level of player we’ve managed to bring in,” he said.
“Some of the things I’ve seen in training this year have been outstanding. I think Tui had been with us a week and one of the other players just said he’s absolutely different gravy to what they’ve seen before with some of his ability on the training field.
“Obviously I knew Tui from before and I know how good a player he is.
“I’ve also seen Theo first hand. I know how he can control a team and move them around the field.
“You’ve seen what he’s done at Saints. I think he was a little bit under-appreciated at St Helens, not by the players but by other people. I’m really happy we’ve got someone like him.”
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36-man squad in 2022
Watson will have the luxury of being able to draw from the biggest squad in Super League in 2022. He has no fewer than 36 players in his named squad for 2022.
Around six of those are expected to sit out the opening game against Toulouse because current French Covid regulations bar unvaccinated players from entering sports arenas. However, Watson otherwise expects to have a clean bill of health.
That includes Wales international Chester Butler, who has made just one appearance for the Giants since joining them from Halifax in August 2019.
The 28-year-old centre or second rower was forced to under three separate surgeries for a series of injuries to his hip and knee. He has made a full recovery and could make his comeback in Sunday’s friendly against Hull KR.
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