Woolford’s march to earn Giants success
IT’S been almost 700 days since Simon Woolford was named as Huddersfield Giants head coach and it has been a rollercoaster ride ever since.
From winning 10 of their next 11 Super League games and narrowly missing out on a play-off place, to surviving relegation on the final day of last season.
Giants have also had a huge overhaul in playing staff and their squad has transitioned greatly in that time with players such as Danny Brough, Ryan Hinchcliffe and Dale Ferguson all moving on.
Therefore, by having such a huge impact at Giants, which games have shaped Woolford’s tenure at Giants?
■■LEEDS director of rugby Kevin Sinfield will run a solo marathon in aid of former team-mate Rob Burrow, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in December.
Sinfield was due to run the Manchester Marathon on April 5, which has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, to help raise awareness and funds for the disease.
A statement on the Rugby Football League website said: “Instead of large crowds, 25,000 fellow runners and a course that is the flattest major marathon in the United Kingdom, he will now set off on his own on the 26.2mile special route he has designed around his home village of Saddleworth, with all the hills and challenges the Pennines can throw at him.”
the first full campaign under Woolford. And when Giants were drawn to face Salford in Round 1 it was thought to be a nice re-introduction to Super League.
However, the eventual Grand
Finalists had other ideas as they consistently challenged an injury-hit Giants side, winning handsomely at the end. It became clear very early on that Giants would have a tough season.
Injuries mounted and Woolford often struggled to name a full squad for games with Scott Grix and Izaac Farrell being asked to play more minutes than they would have anticipated pre-season.
WITHOUT doubt, the highlight of 2019 was the Magic Weekend demolishing of Hull FC at Anfield, a result which absolutely no-one saw coming.
Giants led from the fourth minute after a Joe Wardle try sent Huddersfield, adorned in red, on their way.
Jake Wardle soon got in on the act as well and Giants ended the day with seven different try scorers, including scores from boyhood Liverpool fans Adam O’Brien and
Jermaine McGillvary at the Kop End.
It looked like being a turning point in their season. Although it didn’t galvanise the squad, it gave Giants fans and Woolford hope and belief the team were capable of huge results.
EVERYTHING went right for Giants against Saints.
This was a litmus test for Giants to see if their promising start to the season was real, or a bit of a fluke.
They were not to be rolled over and by the simple virtue of staying in the game, they were able to pounce through Jake Wardle.
For most of Woolford’s reign, he has insisted his side needed to remain in the fight to give themselves the best chance of victory.
This match against St Helens was the embodiment of this message that had been pushed throughout his 676 days in charge.