LOOK HEW’S BACK AGAIN
Fighting-fit Sam has Warriors in his sights
FIT-AGAIN Sam Hewitt has timed his run to perfection as Huddersfield bid to fire on both fronts.
The hard-working second-row has missed the last seven games due to a freak training ground incident.
But he returns as Giants face champions Wigan in today’s intriguing Super League tussle.
And Hewitt, who this week signed a new three-year deal, plans to show he’s straight back up to speed for next Sunday’s Challenge Cup semi-final against Warrington.
He said: “I’m buzzing. I’ve been itching to get back for a week or two.
“I was gutted with the injury, especially the way it happened.
“It was in training but there was no one around me. I just turned to get back onside and wasn’t touched by anyone but ended up snapping my ankle ligament and needing surgery.
“It was tough to take as I’d been playing every week and felt like I was doing a good job, so that put a dampener on things.
“You’re only human and the Wigan and Warrington games are the ones you want to play in. “But the physio team told me the best and worst-case scenarios – and luckily I’ve finished with the best.”
As well as chasing Wembley, Huddersfield were showing signs of challenging for top spot recently but slipped off the pace with back-to-back defeats against St Helens and Salford.
World Club champions Wigan will offer another stern test and Hewitt added: “They are an aggressive pack and on the edges they’re pretty silky with some skill.
“But I’m sure we’ll rise to it. I can’t wait to get back out there.”
That new deal shows how much faith boss Ian Watson has in the no-nonsense forward.
He’s now aged 25 but his career has been a slow-burner since making his Huddersfield debut off the bench against Leeds back in 2018.
Hewitt spent time on loan at Workington and Halifax in his formative years and even last season he went out on loan to Wakefield for seven games.
But he was rewarded with the
No.12 jersey by Watson this term and he started all five of their opening games before that untimely injury.
The gritty Yorkshireman said: “It’s been a waiting game and been about being patient.
“The last couple of years I had Chris McQueen in front of me who’s a great professional and did some wonderful things in the NRL.
“He came here and was absolutely fantastic.
“I did have some hard conversations with Watto but I trusted him.
“I had a lot to learn coming through and do feel I’m starting to get there now – my role and my position.
“Now I need to make the most of my chance – and I’m absolutely thrilled with the contract.”