Slow start was to be expected says Lawrence
MICHAEL Lawrence says Huddersfield Giants’ slow start to the new Super League season was to be expected.
The Claret and Gold host champions St Helens tomorrow still looking for their first league win of the campaign.
After an opening defeat to Hull FC, Ian Watson’s men have also lost to Catalans Dragons and Hull KR.
They are one of only four teams – the others being Leigh, Wakefield and Salford – who are yet to put points on the board.
But the experienced Lawrence, who made his 300th appearance in Friday’s loss to Rovers, says with a new coach in Watson coming in over the close season, it was always going to take the side time to gel.
“We’d like to have got a win on the board earlier, of course, but with a change of coach and the arrival of new players, it was always likely to take some time to gel,” said the 32-year-old.
“The coach has come in with some great ideas and changed a number of things, including the way we train as well as some tactical stuff, and we only had the one pre-season match.
“We weren’t too worried, and in the game against Catalans, although we lost, we could see things were coming together.”
The Giants were boosted last week by England call-ups for both Jake Wardle and Matty English by head coach Shaun Wane.
Wardle has been tipped by Watson as a possible World Cup candidate.
The duo joined Giants team-mate Jermaine McGillvary in the training squad. And Lawrence believes not only will the winger make England’s squad, he could be a star of the tournament.
“I don’t think there’s a better winger in Super League,” Lawrence told Total Rugby League.
“He’s been consistent for so long, he trains really well, and as long as he can stay fit, I think he’ll be good to go.”
Lawrence, meanwhile, is looking forward to the World Cup as his Jamaica side face Ireland, New Zealand and