Our fantastic

“I am very happy to thank our fans for the way they have supported us over the season,” said Stone.

“The supporters have been great all year, especially as we have not always given them a lot to cheer about.

“We really appreciate that and hopefully they will have more to cheer next season.”

The Giants will be buoyed by a positive run in mid-season and Stone was looking forward to building on that.

“We did have some good things happen in the second half of the year,” said Stone.

“We had a period from the Magic Weekend to the Super 8s game against Castleford where we had the best defensive record in the competition.

“That was very pleasing as we were beginning to manage games that much better.

“We showed more energy and put more pressure on teams during that period.

“It was also helped that at that time we had more continuity in the team, putting out the same 17 most weeks, after having injuries at the start and then having a fair few players banged up at the end of the season.”

Those injuries had a part to play in a losing run at the end of the Super 8s with defeat at home to Castleford followed by away setbacks at Salford City Reds and St Helens before a home finale and a 36-12 defeat at the hands of Leeds Rhinos.

“It was not the way we wanted to sign off but we were carrying a few injuries,” explained Stone.

“We didn’t manage against Leeds as well as we can do and that was frustrating.

“At times in the season we have defended very well, but at others we have let in some soft tries as we did against Leeds and it makes it hard to win when you have done that.”

Salford have announced the