Huddersfield ace Olly Russell making his former coach Matt Peet proud

Huddersfield star Olly Russell will come up against his former coach Matt Peet on Thursday when they host Wigan in a Challenge Cup final dress rehearsal.

Russell came through the ranks at Wigan where he was coached by Peet before moving across the Pennines to Huddersfield during his academy days.

The 23-year-old half-back has played a key role in Huddersfield’s strong start to the 2022 season. He has played 10 of the first 11 rounds of Super League.

Russell has also helped the Giants reach the Challenge Cup final on May 28, where they will meet his former club at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But before the big dance in the capital, the Giants meet the Warriors in Super League on Thursday night.

And Peet couldn’t be prouder of his former half-back Russell for making a name for himself at Huddersfield.

Peet told Love Rugby League: “We’re made up for him here, we are really proud of him.

“It is a credit to their academy system with how they took him when they did.

“I’ve got a lot of admiration for Olly to see the professional that he has developed into.

“He is really competitive, has got himself in great condition and he is getting better month on month.

“I think he looks like he is in their best team at the moment so credit to him. He comes from a good family and is a class act.”

Olly Russell now a key man for Huddersfield

Peet sees Russell as one of Huddersfield’s main threats ahead of Thursday’s game along with his fellow half-back Theo Fages and in-form full-back Tui Lolohea.

Peet added: “The half-backs are the main threats in teams in general, in particular Olly with his short kicking game. He is definitely going to be at the centre of what they are doing.”

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