Salford boss confirms Harv to join the Giants

HARVEY Livett is set to join Huddersfield Giants next year after Salford head coach Paul Rowley confirmed the Reds back-rower has decided to leave the club – while also claiming they have rejected two approaches from the Giants for Kallum Watkins.

Livett, 25, is off-contract at the end of the season but is set to reunite with former Reds coach Ian Watson in 2023. The back-rower recently returned from a calf injury that had kept him out for the opening months of the season.

He will now see out the year at the AJ Bell Stadium before making the move to West Yorkshire, with the Giants also linked with Wigan Warriors’ outside back Jake Bibby, who also played for Watson during his time at Salford.

“We’ll be losing Harvey at the end of the season,” Rowley confirmed. “He’s been injured six months so it’s hard to get him back but unfortunately Huddersfield have come in and took him from us and we can’t really compete.

“They’re well resourced and what they want, they get. Harvey will work hard and finish the season in good form for Salford, and we’ll then be sorry to see him go.”

In a further development, Rowley said the club has knocked back two approaches for Watkins, the England international who has been in fine form since his own return from a serious injury.

“We have had approaches for Kallum Watkins, but we will not be allowing Kallum to go anywhere and he’s happy here at Salford.”

Watson has a number of his former Salford players within his current squad at the John Smith’s Stadium, including Josh Jones, Tui Lolohea and Luke Yates. The Giants boss has said they will keep recruitment to a minimum ahead of next season as he looks to retain the bulk of his squad.

They have recently been undergoing a retention drive but still have the likes of Ricky Leutele and Leroy Cudjoe.