Page 22 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS

RLW PREDICTS: 11th

Huddersfield Giants have made some NRL experience behind him.
exciting signings heading into the new But what is really impressive about this
season. Giants side is the amount of young stars
2019 NRL Grand Finalist Aidan Sezer is that are likely to play a big role this year.
the standout. His signing shows a great We’ve already mentioned McIntosh
amount of ambition from the Giants. He and he is joined by Jake Wardle, Matty
can’t have been cheap and he’s a marked English, Oliver Wilson and the two Senior
improvement on Matt Frawley who has twins as young players about whom we
gone in the opposite direction to Sezer to should all be excited.
the Australian capital of Canberra. English and Wilson really broke through
Sezer will provide the Giants with a last year and will provide the Giants with
measured organisational game which some punch off the bench while Jake
they’ve lacked since the departure of Wardle has all the skill of his older brother
Danny Brough. He will partner up with Lee but probably possesses added speed and
Gaskell who is a genuine running threat. he’s lethal under the high ball.
Meanwhile, the spine is completed by Jermaine McGillvary has just celebrated
vice-captain Adam O’Brien, who will be his testimonial and he’ll be looking to lead
expected to step up and fill the role of from the wing as one of the most senior
Kruise Leeming who has joined Leeds, members of the squad.
and Ashton Golding who we’re hoping has Like Michael Shenton at Castleford, Leroy
found a home in Super League. Cudjoe will feel like a new signing for the
2020 SQUAD: The emergence of Jack Walker at Giants supporters if he can keep himself
Leeds saw Golding’s chances limited on the field for long enough.
1 Ashton Golding
at Headingley. Since then, the fullback As well as Leeming, both Alex Mellor and
2 Jermaine McGillvary
has had to make do with time on dual Sebastine Ikahihifo have left the club to
3 Jake Wardle registration with Featherstone Rovers in join Leeds and Salford respectively. Both
4 Jordan Turner the Championship. But his form was good are losses to the club but the latter’s
5 Darnell McIntosh and the Giants needed a fullback with spiral in terms of involvement at his old
6 Lee Gaskell Darnell McIntosh expected to play on the club has been puzzling. He made the
7 Aidan Sezer wing in 2020. 2017 dream team and by 2019, he was
The Giants have added some much- a shadow of that player. Ian Watson,
8 James Gavet
needed steel in the front row with the Salford’s Head Coach, will be licking his
9 Adam O’Brien
signing of James Gavet from Newcastle lips if he can get the best out of the
10 Suaia Matagi Knights. He’s a big body with plenty of forward.
11 Kenny Edwards
12 Joe Wardle STAR PLAYER COACH
13 Michael Lawrence
14 Matty English
15 Oliver Wilson
16 Aaron Murphy
17 Ukuma Ta’ai
18 Paul Clough
19 Akuila Uate
20 Oliver Roberts
21 Leroy Cudjoe
Giants fans will be hoping that the The Giants have been through their fair
22 Tom Holmes
signing of Aidan Sezer proves more share of coaches in the last few years
23 Oliver Russell
fruitful than their last attempt at bringing since the departure of Paul Anderson.
24 Louis Senior
in an Australian halfback. Simon Woolford has been with the
25 Innes Senior This time last year, Matt Frawley had just club for over a year now and has done
26 Sam Hewitt been shipped over and he’s already back a decent enough job. The Giants flirted
27 Sam Wood in Australia with Canberra Raiders with with relegation last year but in the end
28 Adam Walne Sezer arriving to plug the gap. they managed to finish 10th.
29 Jon Luke Kirby But Huddersfield fans need not worry. Woolford’s job in Huddersfield is his first
Sezer comes to the Giants with plenty foray into head coaching after a spell
30 Reiss Butterworth
to offer. He was part of the Raiders’ side with Newcastle Knights in the Intrust
31 Chester Butler
that made the NRL Grand Final last year Super Premiership.
32 Owen Trout with the halfback starting in the Final As a player, Woolford was a successful
33 Dominic Young alongside Jack Wighton. hooker with Canberra Raiders in the 90s
Sezer is a big upgrade that’s for sure. and early 2000s.

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