Giants coach builds a spirit of hard graft

AS Huddersfield Giants continue their preparations for next season, Simon Woolford’s squad is beginning to take shape ahead of the new Super League season.

The blend of old faces being replaced with new signings, new training methods being implemented and a renewed sense of optimism at the club makes this time a hugely exciting one in the camp.

Giants are beginning to be moulded by Woolford into an outfit that can challenge in 2019, but is the head coach satisfied with how his side is looking?

He said: “There’s always room for improvement and we’re willing to make some changes, but at this stage we’re pretty happy with what we have got.”

Throughout this pre-season, it is clear this Giants squad are always striving to be the best and to challenge for trophies, a mentality that has come straight from the top.

Always improving – and looking for ways to improve – has been implemented into training and will be key for success in 2019.

Woolford is not resting on his laurels, however, and is determined to perfect his squad.

He has already highlighted an area that could do with strengthening before the new season kicks-off.

He told the Examiner: “Outside backs maybe an area we may need to get one more in now we’ve lost Jake Mamo but, hopefully, that will work itself out over the next few weeks.”

Increasing the Giants’ squad depth has been a key feature of Woolford’s tenure and it will be vital that injuries to star players are covered this season for Huddersfield to be successful.

Too much reliance on players such as Jermaine McGillvary have hindered Giants when injury strikes, but next year could – and should – be different with the academy prospects looking like they could all push for a starting spot in 2019. Getting the balance right in the squad is a big aim for Woolford, who has taken the decision to hire Kurt Wrigley from Australia to help the squad during pre-season.

One of Wrigley’s jobs will be to begin to build spirit within the squad and to get the team trusting in each other to all work hard, something Woolford is a big advocate of.

He said: “When we get into the season, there’s going to be some ups and downs but as long as we’re united and we’re together, willing to work hard for each other, and willing to make sacrifices for each other, and we’re all in it for the right reasons, there’s no reason why we can’t have a good year.”