Jermaine the key as Giants aim to stand tall next term
AARON Murphy and Dale Ferguson have signed new contracts with the Giants – but Tyler Dickinson has left the club.
Versatile back Murphy, who joined the Giants from Wakefield Trinity in 2012, has signed a two-year extension.
“I’ve been at the club for a long time, this is my seventh year coming up so I’m really happy to stay,” said Murphy (pictured).
“The club is massive to me, it’s like my second home I’ve been here that long!”
New Scotland captain Ferguson, who is enjoying his second spell with the Giants, has also signed a two-year extension, having racked up 90 appearances and 18 tries.
“I love the club, that’s why it was an easy decision to come straight back for my second spell and when I got offered this two-year extension I was over the moon.
“I’m happy to be staying, I need to repay the faith and keep turning up each week, staying injury free and keep playing.”
Head coach Simon Woolford says he is delighted to have secured new deals for both Ferguson and Murphy.
“These deals were done a while back and I’m happy to endorse them and have the guys around for another two years to be part of the 2019 squad, which I expect will still evolve and develop as time moves on,” he said.
“Dale needs a full off-season, training hard to get his body right. He can be an asset to us in the backrow when fully firing.
“We’re looking forward to starting up again in November and seeing the real Fergy back out there come February time.
“Murph is simply tough as old boots, a great pro and one of those under-rated sort of guys who goes under the radar a bit but exactly the type of player you want in and around the joint.
“Players love playing alongside him and I’m expecting the move up to second row to be a new lease of life for him.”
Dickinson, meanwhile, has left in a bid to secure more first-team action.
“In speaking to Tyler he was looking for a fresh start in 2019 and some guaranteed first team game time,” said Giants managing director Richard Thewlis. RARELY has a sporting season seen such a swing in results like the Huddersfield Giants’ 2018 campaign.
From staring potential relegation in the face to becoming the most in-form side in Super League – and narrowly missing out on a place in the Super League semi-finals.
In order to progress next season and push for their maiden appearance in a Super League Grand Final, we look at what Simon Woolford’s side need to do. cannot afford to start as poorly as they did this year – where they picked up only two wins in their first 13 games.
Starting well and getting wins under their belts doesn’t just get points on the board, but also gets confidence flowing and gets back that winning mentality that helped Giants throughout the second half of the campaign.
With the memories of late 2018 fresh in their minds, and a whole pre-season under Woolford, Giants have the best possible starting point to begin the 2019 season well.
Nothing drastic must happen early season either – they just need points on the board and for that winning mentality to make itself at home at the John Smith’s Stadium. THIS one may seem obvious, but let’s not forget how poor the Giants defended at times last season.
Only relegated Widnes conceded more than them in 2018, with the Vikings only conceding 24 more points than Giants.
Certainly, the Huddersfield defence improved remarkably under Woolford, but it is clear defensive shakiness still lies within the side.
The 42-16 defeat at home against Wakefield in August highlighted the porous nature of the defence when put under sustained pressure.
Giants made too many mistakes that day, and that was a running theme throughout 2018 with a huge failure to capitalise on chances, as well as the ability to keep the opposition from the try line for any sustained period – showing how pivotal tightening the defence will be for Woolford in the off-season.
Great attacks win games, but great defence wins trophies. It’s no coincidence that the two best defences in Super League last season won the League Leaders Shield and the Grand Final. also Claret and Gold for the next five years after signing a new contract earlier this month. Jermaine McGillvary is undeniably the biggest attacking threat for Giants – and he’s the key to success. The England star - who is in the 19-man squad to face New Zealand in the first Test on Saturday – was Super League’s top try scorer in 2015 but was off the boil slightly last season in, albeit, a very injuryplagued season. McGillvary scored only 11 tries, while, in comparison, Ben Barba scored 28. Teams don’t win titles with their main attacking threats scoring just 44 points all season. The link-up out wide between Leroy Cudjoe and Jermaine McGillvary was crucial in the Giants’ 2013 League Leaders Shield success and any semblance of this form in 2019 will propel Giants into a title-challenging team. Jerry’s importance to this team cannot be understated and an inform McGillvary will be pivotal in any success Giants may have in 2019. They cannot afford to start as poorly as they did this year, with just two wins in their first 13 games LAST season saw numerous youth prospects not just break into the first team, but make their presence known in the squad to become firstteam regulars.