Huddersfield Giants head coach Luke Robinson has provided an injury update and made an admission ahead of Round One of Super League.
The Giants overcame Championship side Hunslet in the Challenge Cup as they won 34-6 in a match where they actually went 6-0 down courtesy of a Greg Eden try.
However, Huddersfield soon kicked on with the Championship outfit tiring as the Giants went about what Robinson described as a “really professional performance” to secure the win.
Speaking post-match on the club’s YouTube channel, the head coach argued: “I thought we were very dominant, even in the first half when it was 12-6.”
Robinson also praised Dean Muir’s side and seemed to show some support for the new Challenge Cup format as he explained just how tough it is to face lower-league sides on their home patch.
“All credit to Hunslet though, they stuck at it and made it very very difficult for us,” he explained.
“I think as you’ve seen this week that they’re not easy places to come. Wigan only 12-6 up at 30 minutes, I think KR were losing after 30 and Catalans took 65 minutes to actually break Halifax down so they’re not easy places to come.”
Huddersfield Giants injury update as coach makes ‘levels’ admission
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
Attention now turns to Round One of Super League for Huddersfield with the Giants still scrambling to be ready after suffering a heavily disrupted pre-season on account of injuries, with Robinson highlighting just how tough it has been.
He said: “When you’re missing your spine, it’s incredibly difficult – not only to play but to train. They’re the ones who direct you but I thought they were all really good, Zac Woolford in particular.
“He’s only been training for one week since his injury, he should still be out as the diagnosis was Round One but he’s done everything in his power to be back.”
One man who had been named in the squad but didn’t play was captain Leroy Cudjoe but there’s hope that he could return to face Warrington Wolves this week.
Robinson said: “Fingers crossed that we’ll get Leroy Cudjoe back next week who is another pivotal player for us as a captain and leader.
“Ideally, they’d have been training together for the last three months but that was out of our hands. Hopefully, we can get them on the field together next week.
One man who could miss that game is Kieran Rush with Robinson confirming he had to leave the field after being rushed back, such is the Giants’ injury crisis, as Robinson explained: “He’s actually been carrying a bit of a shoulder injury anyway.
“In an ideal world, I’d have probably given him a rest but he took another bang and fingers crossed it’s just an impact injury.”
Despite the assertion that Sunday’s win was a “professional performance”, Robinson was under no illusions about how much Huddersfield must step it up now that they’re back against Super League opposition.
“Everything has to go up a level,” he declared.
“Warrington are a great side. Danny Walker is one of the best nines in the comp and George Williams is one of the best halves.
“Today’s performance was a step in the right direction but everything needs to go up a level.”
