Bad memories of 2023 fuelled Huddersfield Giants hammering of Hull FC

Yesterday saw Huddersfield Giants blitz Hull FC for the second time this season as Ian Watson’s side ran in ten tries to win 56-22 and now the Giants’ coach has revealed what the major motivator was.

It was a loss that left Hull FC in eleventh with just one win in seven so far in the 2024 campaign, but perhaps more importantly a game that has provided major points difference swings to each side which could prove pivotal come the end of the season.

For the Giants right now it takes them ahead of both Salford and Leeds into the top six and provides a welcome confidence boost ahead of their Challenge Cup tie against top-of-the-table Catalans Dragons.

Whilst it ended up being a comfortable win, it was certainly a game that could have proved a banana skin with Sam Tomkins having predicted an FC win, and Ian Watson has since revealed that last year’s upset loss to Hull FC was a key focus all week to ensure his side didn’t take their eye off the ball.

Speaking post-match on SuperLeague+, Watson explained: “We spoke all week about what happened to us last year when we came here and how Hull were on a seven-game losing streak, and we were kind of tracking well at the time, and then it derailed us.

“We came here and got caught out and Hull then went on to a decent run on the back of it, so we wanted to make sure that that didn’t happen again this year.

“I thought the boys were outstanding, the way we started the game was excellent. I think we completed 19 out of 19 sets in the first half.”

Huddersfield Giants provide update on star player

That 100% completion rate in the first half enabled the Giants to run in seven tries and kill the game off completely with ex-Hull FC man Adam Swift setting the standard with a hattrick, including a score in the first 55 seconds.

What was worrying for Huddersfield Giants was that Swift left the field in the second half looking dazed after a big shot and Watson has since provided an update on his star winger.

“He seems alright coming off, he’s just got a bit of blurred vision more than anything,” Watson confirmed.

“It wasn’t actually the impact, I think it was more that his vision was a little bit impaired. So he’s getting that checked out. Hopefully, he’s alright. He’s been an outstanding player for us this year.”

On that first half demolition specifically, Watson noted: “The pleasing thing was the way that we laid that platform for the spines to be able to play off the back of and then when you’re playing on the front foot, it’s a hell of a lot easier than playing on the back foot.

It’s a far better start to the 2024 campaign for Huddersfield Giants than in 2023 but it’s not been without its tests, the Giants were slated to play seven of their opening nine games on the road and their impressive start through adversity is what has pleased Watson so much.

“We knew we had a tough start anyway with the amount of away games that we had coming thick and fast from the start but it was one where we spoke about the resilience and having a mentality to be able to go away and win games and that’s what we’ve been doing.

“It bodes well for us going forward. We’ve got an interesting game next week now against Catalans and then we move forward back to the league again.”