Matty sweating on his Giants place for Challenge Cup final
COMPETITION FOR PLACES SHOWS HOW FAR CLUB HAS COME, SAYS ENGLISH
HUDDERSFIELD Giants’ Matty English admits he fears for his Betfred Challenge Cup final place – but that’s a sign of just how far the club has progressed under Ian Watson.
The England Knights prop hopes to experience his first major final against Wigan Warriors at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday week.
But he missed the 25-4 semi-final win over Hull KR after copping a one-match ban and knows how stiff competition is to get into the side.
English, 24, returned in Friday’s 32-22 Super League win over Wigan when both teams fielded significantly weakened sides and is in the 21-man squad for tomorrow’s Betfred Super League clash with Toulouse at the John Smith’s Stadium.
However, such is the strength of the Claret and Gold’s squad, it still looked particularly strong especially up front, even without rested captain Luke Yates and England prop Chris Hill plus ex-New Zealand Warriors front-row Seb Ikahihifo.
Asked if he’d been worried about his spot English, who has played in 10 of Giants’ 15 games so far this season, admitted: “A little bit. It has been playing on my mind.
“I knew I just needed to put a good performance in against Wigan. Watto told me I’d be playing some big minutes so I knew I’d have that side of the game to deal with.
“Everyone is just competing and looking forward to trying to get into that cup final squad.
“We’ve got Toulouse on Friday which is another really important game as we need another two points to keep us at the top end of the table. We’re all just building.”
Huddersfield also rested England winger Jermaine McGillvary, centre Leroy Cudjoe and Innes Senior against Wigan, Chris McQueen was injured while second-row Josh Jones, stand-off Jack Cogger and Will Pryce were all banned.
Jones and Cogger have now served their suspensions – Pryce completes his 10-game ban against Toulouse – and McQueen hopes to be fit, so Watson could be spoilt for choice when it comes to his final selection.
English conceded: “In training, everyone is putting their hand up.
“Everyone is trying to put their best foot forward and get in that team.
“I feel it shows just how far we have come as a club.
“A few years ago, we probably couldn’t have rested players like we can do now and replace them with such quality.
“Some of the boys who stepped up against Wigan, like Sam Hewitt, were outstanding.
“Louis (Senior) took his chances really well and there were plenty of good performances.”
The win over Wigan, which saw Louis Senior score a hat-trick, could give Giants a psychological advantage going into the final as they look to win the cup for the first time in almost 60 years.
“Yes, in a way I think it will,” added English, with his side up to fourth in the table.
“We knew we had the job to do. Both sides rested a few players and it was a good challenge.
“We made it hard for ourselves in patches. We could have put the game to bed a little earlier but it’s always nice to get two points and always good to get one over on Wigan.
“Obviously the teams are very, very different and it’ll be different in a couple of weeks.
“I think it’ll be a much smaller scoring game in the final but we know that’s one-one now between us for this season so we’ll see what happens at Tottenham.”