Huddersfield Giants coach Rick Stone isn’t giving up on a possible top four finish for his side just yet.
Although their place in the Super League Super 8s hasn’t been confirmed, the Aussie coach – who has been with the club for a year now – knows the capability of his side and seems confident. And why shouldn’t he?
The mid-season loan signing of Martyn Ridyard from Leigh Centurions sparked Huddersfield into life but the half-back will not be available against his parent club this Friday, in a game where the Giants will hope to seal their top eight spot.
Asked about his side’s chances of a top four finish by the Yorkshire Post, Stone said: “You’d be surprised,”
“There is still a bit of change by the time the normal competition is finished as there’s seven games left and there’s 14 more points on offer.
“We want to be in the top-eight and keep moving in the right direction. We can’t just be comfortable.
“There’s a little bit of water to go under the bridge yet in the competition but the first port of call is to get top-eight and then we’ll reassess where we’re at after that.”
The Giants are six points behind fourth-placed Hull FC. A surge in the Super 8s could see them challenge and that’s what Stone is wanting from his side, and he believes he can get that out of them.