SQUAD FOR 2021
TO CLARET AND GOLD
HUDDERSFIELD Giants head coach Ian Watson has returned to his former club again for his latest new recruit.
Having snapped up former Salford star Josh Jones on Christmas Eve, the Claret and Gold have now signed Luke Yates from the Red Devils.
The forward has joined on a twoyear deal for an undisclosed fee.
The 25-year old has spent the last two seasons in the BetFred Super League, making 28 appearances for London Broncos in 2019 and 18 appearances for Salford last season and was part of Watson’s side as they reached the Challenge Cup final.
Yates arrived in Super League from Newcastle Knights in the NRL, having made 25 appearances in his time Down Under.
He has also played under-20s representative football for New South Wales in 2015.
“Luke was amongst the best middles in the competition last year and is definitely one of the hardest working players you will ever come across,” said Watson, who continues to build his squad ahead of his first season in charge at the John Smith’s Stadium.
“His appetite for the contest is shown in his work ethic for his teammates in defence and his attitude to turn up for the tough carries.
“Luke was a number one target and I am over the moon with him joining us at the Giants and again would like to thank the work done by (owner) Ken Davy and (managing director) Richard Thewlis behind the scenes to get it across the line.”
And Watson believes the arrival of Yates will help in the development of the young players at the club.
“It was essential bringing Luke to the Giants because of what he is which is a total professional, a topquality player with endless energy for the game,” he said.
“Luke will improve us as a team alongside the quality middles we already have and will help to make our younger players better like Matty English, Oliver Wilson, Owen Trout,
Jon-Luke Kirby and Robson Stevens who will all learn from him.
“Yates, Cunningham, Jones, Greenwood, McQueen and Ashworth coming into our existing pack make it an exciting prospect for Huddersfield supporters in 2021.”
And Yates admits, the chance to reunite with Watson was key to his move to the Giants.
He said: “The main motivation for me was to work with Ian Watson, we have a long history, even though we’ve only worked together for a year. He tried to sign me when I signed for the Broncos, he signed me to Salford and when the opportunity opened up for me to work with him again, I knew I wanted to join the club.
“I’d consider myself a grafter, I do big minutes in the middle against bigger bodies and I use the attributes I have. I’m a fit forward who likes the defensive side of the game.
“I’m coming here to play my role for the team and, hopefully, help transfer my effort into some wins.
“I’m not coming here to tag along, I want to be dominant in the pack and I’m coming to Huddersfield to win things.
“The squad that the club have put together is unbelievable, and the additions to the squad are excellent, and in Ian Watson they’ve got someone who wants to be at the top of the table, competing for titles, and I wanted to be a part of that.”