NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL RAPIRA’S LAST APPEARANCE BEFORE HEADING TO FRANCE
FOLLOWING on from last week’s question, what did we learn from the St Helens game?
Mainly that the good people of Lesser Merseyside are a sensitive lot.
Their ears are so delicate that they do not like the opposition fans to make much noise. They are even more aggrieved when a taxi-load of fans out-shout the home support!
Yes, the 80 (an appalling turnout) or so Giants’ fans made so much noise that the stewards asked us to be quiet!
Fair does to the stewards though. They didn’t pursue the issue when their pleadings where ignored. In fact, they seemed to enjoy the situation and took it all in good heart!
There have been a few murmurs of disquiet regarding the newlynamed Legends Bar where we meet before games.
A meeting has been arranged with Gareth Davies, the boss of KSDL, to discuss matters.
In the meantime, we have been assured, there will be wine, cider, and, probably, a craft beer on sale at the Leeds game.
And for those who will be feeling a little peckish, sausage rolls will be on sale.
On a personal note [ie nothing to do with HGSA], I have had a moan about the food at stadium events in the past so it only fair to praise when things are good.
The meal at this week’s Awards Evening was far better than anything I have ever had at the stadium. Well done.
Talking of singing praises, the club have to be applauded for the early bird prices for season tickets. Sorry, season cards!
The last time there was a nominal season charge [remember that dreadful season?] the following year’s prices rose to ‘normal’.
Well, this time they have shot up from £99 to a staggering £125!
Not only the cheapest in Super League, but far cheaper than any of our neighbouring Championship clubs – and cheaper than that giant of rugby which will be playing in League 1!
So, if you are one of the disaffected 12000 of their fans, why not return to your home town team and watch Super League at the Giants!
Well done to Seb [you try spelling the rest of his name!] on not only being the player that the members of HGSA would least like to leave the club, but also the fact that he took all the rest of the major honours at Monday night’s event.
Finally, thank you to the Directors for recognising the work done by HGSA by nominating us the for the Outstanding Achievement Award. Sadly there was a bloke called Eorl Crabtree who got in the way of us winning!
A reminder about our Annual General Meeting on October 10. Proceedings will commence at 7.30 in Turnbridge WMC.
And Seb’s wife said that he will be free to collect his award again in front of us.
Please nominate committee members via our website, www.GiantsSupporters.co.uk. HUDDERSFIELD Giants head coach Rick Stone has made two changes to his 19-man squad to face Leeds Rhinos in the final home game of the season at home tomorrow.
From the squad that faced St Helens, and lost 40-16 in the penultimate round of the Super 8s last week, forwards Sebastine Ikahihifo and Nathan Mason come into the squad to replace the injured Oliver Roberts, who has a hamstring strain, and Dale Ferguson, who is still struggling with a shoulder problem.
New Zealander Ikahihifo returns to the squad after winning the major awards at the club’s presentation night on Monday, while former Kiwi international Sam Rapira makes his final appearance for the club before heading to France to play for Toulouse next season.
Stone is looking for a strong end to the 2017 Super League campaign at the John Smith’s Stadium (8pm) and said: “We are looking for something positive out of the game.
“The past few weeks have not been great for us and last week we were pretty poor in our execution against Saints which was disappointing, so we are looking to do a bit better.
“And it is very important to finish well in front of our own fans.
“They have been really important for us this season and very loyal this year, both home and away, and they have turned up and made a lot of noise and given us plenty of support.
“We didn’t give them a lot to cheer about early in the season, but hopefully we can give them something to cheer about by the time we have finished the competition.”
Stone is hoping that, while nothing rides on the game with the Giants out of the frame for the top four and Leeds already booked in for a home semi-final, that the derby will still be a great contest.
“Every game is a game worth playing for, but each time we face Leeds everyone involved in it seems to want to give that little bit extra,” said Stone.
“The players seem to enjoy playing in it and they get up for the Leeds game, and I think playing them at the John Smith’s in the last game means there will be a fair bit of a buzz about the place.
“Leeds supporters generally provide a lot of vocal support and bring numbers, so I expect a