Huddersfield win shows how serious they are about Super League success

Huddersfield coach Ian Watson says their 22-14 win against Catalans shows they are serious about competing for the Super League title.

The Giants bounced back from their Challenge Cup final defeat to Wigan to complete a league double over the Dragons.

Watson said: “I think this shows how serious we are about this competition, obviously we have missed out on one last week so we didn’t want to miss out again.

“We knew we had to come here and let everybody know that we are really serious about what we are doing. We did that by putting the effort in and having a real good team performance.

“I thought the character of the players shone through and that’s what got us the win.

“That was a big, big effort to back up after a Challenge Cup final with all of the emotion that goes into it and the disappointment of losing it. To then come here to Catalans and get a result is a great, great result.

“Will Pryce was great tonight, he always gives the team energy but I thought Jake Wardle, who hasn’t played for a while, his energy was superb but so were the other guys.

“It’s the character and the belief that they have in each other that is so important. Players are working really hard for each other at times when we might be struggling.

“Today was a first great hit out for a few players who haven’t been in the side for a while and Bruno (Michael Lawrence) our club captain was outstanding. Particularly after missing out on the cup final, to put away his disappointment and come here and play like that is simply outstanding and it shows what kind of a guy he is.

“This place seems to suit the way we want to play the game, it’s a great facility, the conditions are perfect and we want to be playing that kind of summer rugby where we can utilise and move the ball.

“Catalans give us the perfect conditions to do that and it suits us down to the ground. We also have to do the tough stuff too and some of our defence in the second half was fantastic.

“We didn’t expect Huddersfield supporters to be here because of the expense of travelling to London and the travel and time they had to spend, to come to Catalans as well is an outstanding effort. Hopefully the boys have rewarded them with the two points and they can have a great weekend in France now.”

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