Huddersfield Giants boss confirms veteran’s exit as he talks NRL signing

Huddersfield Giants head coach Luke Robinson has confirmed that hooker Adam Milner will exit the club, something the announced when speaking about the signing of NRL hooker Zac Woolford.

Woolford was confirmed as a Huddersfield signing on Wednesday afternoon with the Giants announcing the deal live on Sky Sports News’ The Verdict. The hooker has penned a one-year deal with the Super League side after finding game time hard to come by of late with Canberra Raiders.

It means that Woolford will ascend to the top of the depth chart at hooker, a position Robinson would later admit was an obvious position of need as he also confirmed it meant the exit of veteran Adam Milner.

Asked about the former Castleford Tigers’ man’s future, Robinson said: “Adam Milner will be moving on. I think that got agreed a while ago that both parties agreed on that. And nothing really changes regarding (Kieran) Rush, Deeks (Thomas Deakin), they’re still an integral part of the squad.”

Woolford, the son of former Huddersfield boss Simon, is the second NRL recruit for the Giants this year alongside England international Tom Burgess.

How Huddersfield Giants poached Zac Woolford

Woolford becomes the first signing under Robinson’s tenure and when speaking about it to BBC West Yorkshire radio, he noted the former connection and the club’s desperate need at the position.

Robinson explained: “I still speak to his dad quite a bit. I still speak to Simon and obviously his name got floated around through agents that he was looking for an opportunity to come back over.

“Everyone knows that we’re looking for a nine. We deemed that as probably one of the positions we really need to strengthen.”

He also circled back to the fact that the club are well behind in terms of recruitment so additions such as Woolford, with the pedigree he has, will be crucial.

The 40-year-old said: “I’ve said in previous interviews it’s very very difficult this time of year. Hull KR and Wigan and teams like that are talking about 2026. They’re not talking about 2025, so we are behind the eight-ball.

“So when his name came available, he’s a really good player. He’s somebody that I’ve watched, obviously through Simon, I’ve watched him anyway, and he’s going into a really good age. He’s at latter end of the 20s but he hasn’t played a million games of NRL, so his body’s not broken but he has played 40-odd games, so he’s got experience and I think he’s going into the pomp of his career.

“He’s a big body for nine, he’s got really good deception, he’s got really good service. I think he’ll offer a lot on the field and off the field.”

On whether his former boss Simon pushed Zac in the direction of the club, Robinson explained:  “I have a big impact on my son’s careers and whatever they want to go into, whether it’s acting or rugby or whatever, I give him my advice and thankfully I think Simon’s pointing in the right direction.”