Huddersfield Giants head coach Luke Robinson has explained his team selection for the game against Catalans Dragons and given a nod to Melbourne Storm, who he hopes his side can emulate.
The Giants are plagued by injuries and their spine has been hit hardest with Robinson revealing mid-week that Tui Lolohea had joined their long-term injury list with a calf issue that will rule him out for eight to ten weeks.
He joins the likes of Adam Clune and Zac Woolford, as well as Kieran Rush and Niall Evalds, whilst the team’s forward pack is also missing the likes of Oliver Wilson (suspension), George King (calf), Harry Rushton (knee/ankle) and Matty English (achilles) for today’s game against Catalans Dragons.
As such, wholesale changes have been made with one Giants’ academy player making his debut in Connor Carr, as well as Hull KR loanee Bill Leyland represent Huddersfield for the first time.
The key change in terms of tactics has seen full-back Jacob Gagai move into the halves and Luke Robinson has now explained why, citing NRL side Melbourne Storm as a team he’d like to emulate.
Huddersfield Giants ‘hoping to emulate’ Melbourne Storm after huge shake-up
In a video shared on the Giants’ social media, Robinson talked the Huddersfield fans through his team selection, conceding: “It’s a little bit different.”
He’d add: “It’s obviously been forced on us and everyone knows the trials and tribulations that we’ve had over the last few months, if not six months.
“I’ve got a team full of full-backs. I’ve got Aidan McGowan at full-back, I’ve got (Jacob) Gagai at six. I’ve got George Flanagan, who has played the majority of his career at full-back, (in the halves) and then Ash Golding, who a long long time ago made his name as a full-back.
“It puts a little bit more pressure on Leroy Cudjoe. I think he’s going to have to guide the team around the field a little bit more but it’s exciting. It’s not conventional. Melbourne Storm have done it in the past and I’m hoping that we can emulate them.
“I’m hoping that we can cause some problems still and get out of the back with a bit more running threat.”
Speaking on his bench options, he explained: “We probably are lacking a bit of experience. Jack Bibby and Jack Billington get an opportunity in the middle alongside Bill Leyland, on his debut coming from Hull KR.
“We’ve got a lot of youth and that will stand us in good stead going forward. The old lads in the pack have got to really stand up this week because Catalans are a big physical pack.”
🗣️ Luke Robinson discusses today’s team selection#Since1895 pic.twitter.com/owUCqisPvR
— Huddersfield Giants 🐮🔔 (@Giantsrl) April 13, 2025
