Matty’s happy with hair-raising start to season
THERE are few more recognisable Huddersfield Giants players on the field than Adam O’Brien with his bandaged head or Matty English and his bleach blonde hair.
Both have played key roles in the Claret and Gold’s perfect start to the Betfred Super League season, but both have flown under the radar, thanks mainly to Aidan Sezer’s contributions.
However, as Giants aim to make it three wins from three games at Hull KR tonight, O’Brien and English will once again be at the forefront of the challenge.
For prop/back-rower English, the great start to the season is nice, but he knows the whole side must keep this momentum going if they want to be contending for the play-offs.
“It’s really nice to get off to a good start, everyone talks about it in pre-season and to put it into practice has been really good,” said the 22-year-old ahead of tonight’s trip to Craven Park.
“We know it’s just the start and that you don’t win trophies at the start of the year, but we just need to keep pushing on and take every week as it comes and, hopefully, keep chalking up some wins.”
The cautious optimism is also shared by hooker O’Brien who believes the team have accomplished exactly what they set out to do in the early rounds.
“Training is going well and all through preseason we aimed to have a good start to the season,” said the 26-year-old former Bradford Bulls player. “In the last few years we haven’t kicked off the season with a good start and so that was a big aim through pre-season for all of us.
“We’ve had two games and two victories so far and we have Hull KR now, hopefully making it three [wins].
“So at the moment the camp is good, we’re training well so just need to keep pushing forward.
“I think every lad has just bought in from day one in pre-season and whenever anyone has come in, the signings, the Aussies, everyone has bought in from that minute when they’ve come through the door, they’ve bought in.”
“We’ve trained hard and we’ve focussed week in and week out and what we’ve said in the week we’ve done on game day.
“I think that’s the big thing.”