Huddersfield Giants confirm dual reg deal with Leeds-based club

Super League side Huddersfield Giants have confirmed their new dual registration partners for the 2025 season with a former loanee helping seal the deal.

The Giants have opted into a deal with newly-promoted Hunslet RLFC who won a dramatic game against Swinton Lions to earn promotion to the Championship.

Winning Man of the Match that day was Huddersfield Giants’ young jewel in the crown in George Flanagan Jr with the back scoring a try and helping guide Hunslet to victory.

The successful development of Flanagan Jr has been listed as one of the key reasons that Huddersfield Giants have partnered with the Championship outfit.

Huddersfield’s Managing Director Richard Thewlis commented on that development whilst also highlighting head coach Luke Robinson’s desire to have a very active partnership that sees players not in the Super League squad earn plenty of game time elsewhere.

The partnership was confirmed by Huddersfield Giants who released a statement announcing their new deal.

Huddersfield Giants opt into dual registration deal with Hunslet RLFC

The statement read: “Huddersfield Giants will partner up with recently promoted side Hunslet RLFC in a new dual-registration agreement.

“After the success of the development of George Flanagan on his loan at Hunslet, the Giants have now entered into an agreement which will see players available to feature for the Betfred Championship side during 2025, if they are not selected for the first-team and Reserves.”

Speaking on the agreement, Thewlis stated: “The arrangement with Hunslet will work well in 2025 for us. They are on the crest of a wave after promotion and have strengthened their side to compete in the much tougher Championship competition.

“There is no doubt that last year George Flanagan was a huge boost for them in the final third of the year and he came on leaps and bounds during his time which was amply demonstrated in his man of the match final display and he returns to us a much better player.

“Luke Robinson is very keen that our players get onto the competitive paddock week in week out which the reserves competition doesn’t do nor is it at the level of the Championship and our player feedback has always been that where possible the higher level of competitive action is preferred.”

Hunslet CEO Neil Hampshire said: “I’d like to thank Richard for his support and particularly Luke and Dean Muir for their hard work on bringing this agreement to fruition.

“We’re making no secret of the fact that we need to make a step change to be as competitive as possible in the Championship. Entering into a DR agreement with the Giants will underpin our recruitment drive and prove mutually beneficial to both Clubs whilst supporting player development.”