Jones ‘as fit as ever’

HUDDERSFIELD Giants boss Ian Watson doesn’t think Josh Jones has a point to prove when he comes up against his old club

Hull FC tomorrow.

The back-rower left the KCOM Stadium after making just seven appearances in a Hull shirt following his move from Salford Red Devils, where he worked with Watson.

His game time was severely restricted due to the long-term effects of coronavirus.

After watching him work hard with the Giants over pre-season, Watson insists Jones is as fit as he has seen him over the last years.

“I don’t think it’s so much of a point to prove,” Watson said. “Obviously he’ll want to do well with it being against Hull.

“I know his time at Hull wasn’t what he wanted it to be in terms of his playing, but he was affected by getting Covid and everyone handles that differently.

“You can see in society, some people get long Covid and some bounce back from it. We were lucky at Salford last year, we had two players get it but nothing happened to them and they bounced back and were fit as they were when they left.

“There are other players who have had issues on the back end of that, it takes time and Josh was one of them at Hull.

“Josh is in good condition, he’s in the best condition I’ve probably seen him in for five years so I’m looking forward to seeing what Josh can do.”

Meanwhile, Giants’ visit to Warrington in round six has been put back to Monday, May 17 in the hope that fans may be allowed into the game, with Wolves hoping 4,000 will be allowed in.

NEW Huddersfield Giants captain Michael Lawrence is determined to drive racism out of rugby league.

The 30-year-old is the only player on an eight-strong Rugby Football League Inclusion Board drawn from a wide range of backgrounds such as education, media and business designed to promote diversity and anti-discrimination and he is keen to have his say.

“I feel a big responsibility to put across what’s happening in the professional game,” Lawrence said ahead of the Giants’ opening match of the season against Hull FC at Headingley tomorrow. “It’s something I’m passionate about.

“There are definitely still some problems to overcome. You only have to go on social media to see it’s alive and kicking in general in the country in many sports.

“There’s definitely some stuff that