Kids are alright as Giants look to future
IT’S been just shy of 100 days since Huddersfield Giants last took to the field in their disappointing Challenge Cup defeat to Toronto Wolfpack.
With no restart plan agreed on just yet, the sport’s future remains unknown.
This hasn’t stopped Huddersfield Giants remaining active in securing some of their future talents, however, with Oliver Russell becoming the newest Giant to renew their contract with the club.
Russell joins Sam Hewitt and John-Luke Kirby in signing contracts keeping them at Huddersfield until 2022.
Innes and Louis Senior have signed one-year extensions and Jake Wardle has extended his Giants contract until 2023. All six of these players have been, at one time or another, first-team players and should they reach their potential, could easily be first-team regulars in the coming seasons.
By securing the futures of these players, Giants have, at least theoretically, secured the spine of their team for years to come and with no knowledge of what rugby league may look like post-coronavirus, these renewals may become invaluable to the club’s future.
Supporters can now relax a little in the knowledge that these players, particularly in the case of Jake Wardle who was attracting attention from Australia, will be at Huddersfield for the foreseeable future.
Losing players like Alex Mellor and Kruise Leeming to Leeds ahead of this season was a blow for Giants as they prepared for 2020 and by getting these contracts sorted early, preparations have already begun for next season.
This is something echoed by Russell, who can see the bright future Giants could have with this spine developing over the years.
“I think the main reason I’ve resigned is that I’m happy at the club. I’m growing as a player under the coaching staff and I’m learning from the older players Lee Gaskell and Aidan Sezer, which is helping my development.”
As expected, Simon Woolford is also excited about these contract renewals: “We are lucky to have most of our great younger brigade now tied up – we see Ollie as an important part of that group moving forward.”
One disappointment for Giants is the fact that Akuila Uate has departed the club after a twelve-month injury lay off.
While it is a huge shame Uate couldn’t show his true ability, his departure means that once again, there is another space open for a youngster to come through.