Play- offs place not a lost cause, insists Giants’ Robinson

AS long as “a glimmer of hope” remains for Huddersfield Giants in their bid to reach the Super League play- offs, interim head coach Luke Robinson insists they will be going all out to achieve it.

The Giants currently have a win percentage of just over 46 per cent, having won seven of their 15 league fixtures so far this campaign.

Realistically, Huddersfield would need to win all of their remaining games to have a chance of catching fourth- placed Catalans Dragons, who currently boast a win percentage of 66 per cent.

Huddersfield have suffered back- to- back defeats in their last two outings bringing an end to their run of three straight victories.

“Everybody talks at the beginning of the year about what they want to achieve but you want to win every game, that is what we are here for,” he said.

“I want players who want to win games and want to get into play- off situations and I am no different as a coach.

“While there is a glimmer of hope, I am going to hold onto it and make sure that we as a club keep wanting to win games and try to get into that top four.”

The Giants’ bid for the top four continues against Wakefield Trinity, who are the only side yet to win a game since the season resumed in August.

Luke Robinson’s side beat Trinity in convincing fashion when the sides met in September and a victory will take their win percentage to 50. It has been a difficult week off the pitch for Wakefield, who have been hit by four positive cases of Covid- 19.

The fixture still has the green light and Robinson has warned his players to be cautious of a Trinity side who he expects to come out fighting.

“I think Chezzy [ Chris Chester] has done a really good job at Wakefield,” said Robinson.

“Unfortunately, there are a lot of ups and downs and when things like Covid hit, it is hard to find consistency. From week- toweek, you are having to swap and change players and they have had a lot of injuries this year.

“They have a lot of stuff going on off the field but that siege mentality can bring the best out in Wakefield.

“We have got to be really cautious of that.

“Although they have had a turbulent week, we are expecting a decent Wakefield side to turn up.”

Huddersfield are set to welcome back Ukuma Ta’ai after the forward overcame a hamstring problem early. Robinson added: “We have just got really good medical staff, people who are on the ball and have done a really good job with him.

“Not only them, Ukuma has always been a model professional and looked after himself. He is somebody away from the game who does the right things.

“I have always said that he is probably the nicest person I have been involved with in rugby league. So everything he does away from the game is spot on. He has worked really hard on his rehab.”