HEAD COACH RICK STONE PRAISES GIANTS REARGUARD BUT WANTS MORE IN ATTACK FOR THE SUPER 8S

in the second half of the regular season have given Stone reason to believe his side can make an impact over the next seven rounds.

“Over the last 12 weeks of the regular season our resolve has grown and we are that bit tougher mentally,” said Stone.

“I would like to think that we are up for the challenge in the Super 8s against the better sides in the competition.

“If we can get the effort, execution in attack and defensive concentration all together and then make sure we produce that every week of the rest of the season then we may have a chance.

“A win at Hull could have given us a genuine crack at the top four, so our next couple of games are going to be really important and we will find out what we face when the draw comes out.

“But whoever we get we have to be up and ready to go.”

While the Giants struggled to pose Hull many problems at the KCOM Stadium, their defensive display was again impressive and Stone picked out newcomer Jordan Rankin as being a big help in that process.

“The defence has been better definitely,” said Stone.

“I will give Jordan Rankin a big pat on the back for that because his organisation at the back defensively has been really good.

“He is putting blokes in the right spot and he is getting blokes to move for him when he needs to.

“The fact we have conceded very few points over the last three games shows that we have come a decent way.

“However, if you don’t execute well enough in attack you are probably not going to beat the top sides.”

With the Challenge Cup semifinals next weekend the Giants will be inactive for around two weeks and Stone was glad of the break.