Huddersfield confirm Watson appointment

Huddersfield Giants have appointed Ian Watson as head coach on a three-year deal from December 1st.

Watson joins boasting a coaching career that has seen him achieve a Super League Grand Final and Challenge Cup Final appearance in the last year with Salford Red Devils, and a call up in 2019 to assist then Great Britain Lions Coach, Wayne Bennett as part of his coaching staff.

Giants Head Coach, Ian Watson said: “I was attracted to the potential of the club. Everything about it screams Top Four; the stadium, the youth academy with the kids that can be brought through & the owner of the club who has proven over time that he wants to win and he’s backed the club in his pursuit of success.”

“My short term aims are to ensure the club moves to the right side of the table. As I have said, everything about this club screams Top Four, and the longer-term aims for the club have to be challenging the top teams in Super League. The footing the club has with the youth coming through, the location of the club and the owner means that it’s set up to do that.”

“My approach is about the collective – everything is about the team, the people you work with and having good relationships. No-one achieves anything on their own and you’ve got to be a collective unit and that’s what we want to make the process going forward. They’ve got to care about each other and they show that on and off the field and they all want to achieve success together.”

Giants Chairman Ken Davy said: “It is a long time since I have felt so excited about a Huddersfield Giants announcement and I am absolutely delighted that Ian Watson has chosen the Giants to be his club for the foreseeable future.

“I have been hugely impressed by his professionalism and integrity throughout our discussions and look forward to him bringing his ideas and work ethic to our Club for the betterment of all.

“It feels a long time since we lifted the League Leaders Shield in 2013 and both Old Trafford and Wembley are venues where I believe our loyal claret and gold supporters need to see their team in action. The journey to get there starts on December 1^st when Huddersfield Giants officially celebrate the beginning of our new era under Ian Watson.”