ESL ESL - Huddersfield - News, Views and Spews !

[S J]

Salford(4) 10

Tries: Sio, Sarginson Goal: Lolohea

Huddersfield (6) 12

Tries: O'Brien, Senior Goals: Sezer 2

Aidan Sezer kicked a late penalty to make it two wins out of two for Huddersfield - their best start to a Super League season for six years. Adam O'Brien's try put them in front before Ken Sio responded for Salford.

In a tight second half, Dan Sarginson's score put Salford ahead but teenager Louis Senior's try levelled the match at 10-10.

After Sezer's all-important kick on 78 minutes, Sio almost crossed for Salford but was crowded out.

Salford, who made the Grand Final last season, have now lost two of their opening three league games.

With the hosts having lost James Greenwood, who went off after a heavy collision and failed a subsequent head injury assessment, Huddersfield opened the scoring when hooker O'Brien darted under the posts.

Sio replied for Salford after being sent over in the corner by Niall Evalds.

 

[S J]

St Helens (10) 10

Tries: Thompson, Knowles Goals: Makinson

Huddersfield (6) 12

Tries: O'Brien, Wardle Goals: Sezer 2

Huddersfield Giants made amends for their heavy loss to Wigan as they came from behind to beat reigning Super League champions St Helens.

Adam O'Brien put the Giants ahead but Luke Thompson and Morgan Knowles sent Saints into a 10-6 lead at the break.

In a tense second half, Jake Wardle scored Huddersfield's second try as they edged into a two-point advantage.

Saints tried to force a late try as Tommy Makinson tried to play Theo Fages through but he could not connect.

The victory means Huddersfield move above Saints into fourth place in the Super League table and have now won four of their five matches this season.

Meanwhile, St Helens slip to a second league defeat this season and their first regular season Super League home loss since August 2018.

 

[S J]

Huddersfield Giants have released former Fiji and Australia winger Akuila Uate a year early from his contract.

The 32-year-old, who joined the Super League club in 2019 from Manly Sea Eagles, will return to Australia.

Uate's deal was due to finish at the end of the 2021 season.

 

[S J]

Half-back Oliver Russell has signed an extended contract with Super League club Huddersfield Giants until 2022.

The 21-year-old academy product's previous deal had been set to expire at the end of 2020.

 

[S J]

Huddersfield (8) 18

Tries: Ta'ai, McGillvary, Russell Goals: Sezer 2, Russell

Warrington (8) 19

Tries: Currie, Widdop, Lineham Goals: Ratchford 3 Drop-goal: Austin

Blake Austin's late drop-goal secured victory over spirited Huddersfield and moved Warrington Wolves level on points at the top of Super League.

Austin stepped up after Oliver Russell had levelled with a converted try for the Giants with three minutes left.

It was a see-saw encounter which was 8-8 at half-time, after Ukuma Ta'ai and Ben Currie traded tries.

 

[The_Fanatical_Rooster]

I got up to watch the Giants vs. Saints match this morning on FOX League (along with the Bristol vs. Worcester Gallagher premiership rugby match).

It was ordinary. Unfortunately, the Giants were never in it, at any stage.

They have signed Chris McQueen from the Wests Tigers on a three month trial.

 

[The_Fanatical_Rooster]

Chris McQueen was interviewed over there on Sky Sports. They didn't muck around in getting him over there! Apparently his Visa was fast tracked. It is quite amazing what can be done quickly when it needs to, even in this COVID environment.

Brian Carney is the main host on the Sky coverage. I remember him - Matty Johns' best mate from memory.

 

[S J]

Huddersfield Giants have appointed Ian Watson as their new head coach on a three-year contract.

The 44-year-old left his position at Salford.

 

[S J]

Huddersfield Giants have signed promising hooker George Roby from Warrington Wolves on a two-year deal.

Roby, 18, is an England academy international but is yet to make any appearances at senior level.

 

[S J]

Huddersfield Giants have signed England Knights forward Jack Ashworth from Super League rivals St Helens on a two-year contract.

The 25-year-old made 43 appearances for St Helens and has also spent time on loan with Rochdale Hornets, Sheffield Eagles and Leigh Centurions.

Head coach Ian Watson said: "Jack is a big mobile front-rower. Everyone sees his engine, his size and his leg speed.

 

[S J]

Huddersfield Giants have signed Australian half-back Jack Cogger on a two-year contract.

Cogger, 23, has made 42 National Rugby League appearances in his homeland for Newcastle Knights and latterly Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

 

[S J]

Huddersfield Giants have completed the signing of Wigan Warriors forward Joe Greenwood on a two-year contract.

Second row Greenwood, 27, becomes head coach Ian Watson's latest addition since taking over at Giants last month.

He started for Wigan in their Grand Final defeat by St Helens, who he also previously played for between 2012 and 2017 before joining Gold Coast Titans.

 

[S J]

Huddersfield Giants have signed Samoa international centre Ricky Leutele from NRL champions Melbourne Storm.

The 30-year-old has made more than 150 first-team appearances for Cronulla Sharks, Toronto Wolfpack and Melbourne.

Australia-born Leutele helped the Sharks to a Grand Final triumph in 2016.

 

[S J]

Huddersfield Giants have signed forwards Josh Jones and Luke Yates from fellow Super League sides Hull FC and Salford for undisclosed fees.

Back-rower Jones, 27, began his career at St Helens, playing a pivotal role in Saints' Super League success in 2014.

He was managed by Giants coach Ian Watson during a spell at Salford Red Devils following a brief switch to union with Exeter Chiefs.

Yates, 25, played for London Broncos before joining Salford in 2019.

 

[S J]

Huddersfield Giants have signed full-back Olly Ashall-Bott on a 10-month deal ahead of the 2021 Super League campaign.

The 23-year-old began his career with Widnes Vikings before moving to London Broncos ahead of last season.

He went on to join Giants boss Ian Watson at Salford Red Devils on a short-term loan in September.

 

[S J]

Betfred Super League
Huddersfield (6) 14
Tries: Sezer 2 Goals: Sezer 2 Drop goals: Sezer, Gaskell
Leeds (4) 13
Tries: Thompson, Handley Goals: Martin 2 Drop goals: L Sutcliffe

Lee Gaskell's last-ditch drop-goal gave Huddersfield a dramatic first Super League win of the season over Leeds.

The Rhinos took the lead through an early try from Bodene Thompson before Aidan Sezer converted his own score to give the hosts a narrow half-time lead.

Sezer raced over inside the first minute of the second half only for Ash Handley to reduce the arrears.

A Rhys Martin goal levelled it and the teams exchanged drop goals before Gaskell kicked the winner at the death.

 

[S J]

Huddersfield Giants back-rower Kenny Edwards has been banned for 10 games after he made inappropriate contact with the backside of Catalans Dragons' prop Sam Kasiano.

Edwards was found guilty of the incident - which happened in a Super League game on 1 July - at an independent hearing tribunal.

 

[The_Fanatical_Rooster]

Unbelievable!

I hope Wigan can win well this Sunday night. Boy they need it.

 

[S J]

Betfred Super League
Castleford (6) 16
Tries: McShane, Graham, Sweeting Goals: McShane 2
Huddersfield (20) 34
Tries: Cudjoe 2, Peteru, Yates, McGillvary Goals: Russell 7

Huddersfield Giants secured a convincing victory against an under-strength Castleford side who are yet to win at home since the return of crowds.

Leroy Cudjoe scored twice in the first-half, along with Nate Peteru, Luke Yates and Jermaine McGillvary, as Giants picked up back-to-back wins.

With 15 players unavailable, Covid-hit Cas fielded a number of academy players including Cain Robb and Brad Graham.

Paul McShane, Brad Graham and debutant Jake Sweeting scored the Tigers tries.

Ian Watson's Giants had Wednesday's game against St Helens postponed because of Covid-19 protocols and the extra rest seemed to do them good.

Cudjoe's recent prolific form saw him cross for the first of his two tries with a run against the grain to get the ball rolling, set up by 18-year-old Will Pryce, the son of former Great Britain international Leon Pryce.

McShane sniped in soon after, but the Giants' veteran centre then got his second to re-establish the lead.

Peteru bulldozed in for the visitors but the Tigers replied in the second-half through 19-year-old Graham.

Yates and McGillvary's scores in the late stages took the game away from the home side, despite Featherstone loanee Sweeting's touchdown.

Daryl Powell's squad worries were further exacerbated by the loss of captain Michael Shenton, who was sent for a hospital check-up on a worrying facial injury.

The former St Helens and England centre was forced off four minutes into the second half after coming off worse attempting a tackle - and Castleford coach Powell fears that x-rays will reveal at least one fracture.

 

[S J]

Huddersfield Giants have re-signed prop Nathan Mason from Leigh Centurions on a one-year deal for the 2022 season.

The 28-year-old Oldham-born front-rower left the Giants to join London Broncos in 2019 before signing for Leigh for 2020, playing 26 Super League games.

Mason came through the Huddersfield academy set-up and following his 2013 debut played 37 games, scoring four tries for the first-grade side.