Huddersfield Giants Ian Watson reportedly lined up for shock coaching role

Huddersfield Giants head coach Ian Watson has worked wonders since moving to the John Smith’s Stadium.

Having taken over from interim coach Luke Robinson, Watson has turned the Giants around from a bottom half of the table side to one that is hunting silverware.

Indeed, Huddersfield were within a whisker of lifting the Challenge Cup back in May, whilst a top four spot in Super League looks more than likely.

No wonder, then, that Watson is attracting the reported interest of NRL clubs.

According to The Mole at the Wide World of Sports, Watson is on the radar of the New Zealand Warriors, Wests Tigers and Canterbury Bulldogs who all have head coaching vacancies at present.

Few British coaches have been successful in the NRL but the last one to do so – former Castleford Tigers hero Malcolm Reilly – won a premiership with Newcastle in 1997.

The Mole has reported that Watson’s name has been put forward to the three clubs by a third party.

Both the Warriors and Tigers lost at the weekend, but the Bulldogs pulled off a miraculous win over Parramatta Eels, with interim boss Mick Potter – who is no stranger to both Super League and the NRL – helping to galvanise the Belmore side.

That in itself has led to calls from some quarters for Potter to be given the reins permanently.