Huddersfield Giants coach responds to Theo Fages transfer speculation: ‘We’d love Theo to be here with us’

Huddersfield Giants coach Ian Watson has responded to the transfer speculation linking French half-back Theo Fages with a move to Catalans Dragons for 2024.

Earlier this week, French outlet L’Independant reported that Steve McNamara is eyeing up the 28-year-old from the John Smith’s Stadium, with the French outfit likely to lose Mitchell Pearce to a return to the NRL at the end of the year.

Fages, who has won 15 caps for France, joined Watson’s Huddersfield from St Helens ahead of the 2022 campaign, but has been hampered by injuries since the move.

Having been announced on a three-year deal, it was believed that Fages was on contract through until the end of 2024 – but the reports say that the further season is an option.

L’Independant state that Catalans have tried to sign the ex-Salford playmaker twice before in 2019 and 2021.

Fages won the Super League Grand Final twice with Saints, and was forced to watch from the sidelines in his final year due to injury as the Saints defeated Catalans 12-10 at Old Trafford.

He has been limited to 25 appearances for Huddersfield since, including just eight in 2023. He has recently been sidelined with a quad injury but will be part of Watson’s squad that travels over the south of France for Saturday’s game against Catalans.

The half-back helped Huddersfield to the Challenge Cup final in his debut season to face Wigan at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, only to miss the showdown due to injury.

Huddersfield take on Catalans at the Stade Gilbert Brutus this Saturday in Super League.

Huddersfield Giants boss on Theo Fages future

When asked about Fages’ future, Watson replied: “We’d love Theo to obviously be here with us.

“There’s been a lot of things that have gone on in and around situations with Theo. That’s probably for Theo to explain as he goes forward.

“We’ll see where it takes us.

“Theo is committed to Huddersfield and is upset with how many games he’s had to miss this year and wants to finish the year strongly.

“Everyone within the club is well aware of the situation. We’ve just got to wait and see more so than anything else.”

The Giants face Catalans Dragons on Saturday evening at the Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan.

READ MORE: Huddersfield Giants star Theo Fages linked with shock switch to fellow Super League club