The extent of Huddersfield Giants’ injury crisis has been made even clearer with the club only naming eight of their top 17 to face Catalans Dragons.
Head coach Luke Robinson confirmed further injury blows had been sustained in the Round Six loss against Hull KR and in training during their week off, meaning the Giants squad has ran even thinner.
Hull KR loanee Bill Leyland is the only man to be brought in, though not for the lack of trying with Ken Davy reportedly telling fans at a recent event that the club have been knocked back 12 times recently when bidding to make signings.
Luke Robinson confirmed that as “very, very, very, very frustrating” with the Huddersfield boss speaking openly on the club’s unprecedented injury crisis.
The Giants take on Catalans Dragons on Sunday, who have had plenty of injury problems of their own, and both 21-man squads have now been named for that game.
Huddersfield Giants team news
Alongside new loanee Bill Leyland, Robinson has been forced to call up two academy players in Max Merta and Jacob Algar. Of Huddersfield’s first 13 numbers, just six are available with key spine players Adam Clune, Tui Lolohea and Zac Woolford all missing.
Kieran Rush is another spine player who is not available with youngster George Flanagan set for a starting role once again this weekend, among a team that could comprise plenty of other young talents.
Adam Swift misses out and prop Oliver Wilson is still banned, whilst George King (calf) and Harry Rushton (knee/ankle) have both had setbacks. Mattu English (achilles) is another who misses out with the biggest blow being the fact Tui Lolohea looks set for 8-12 weeks out due to a calf issue.
Huddersfield Giants 21-man squad: 1. Jacob Gagai, 3. Jake Bibby, 4. Liam Sutcliffe, 5. Sam Halsall, 10. Tom Burgess, 12. Sam Hewitt, 14. Ashton Golding, 17. Joe Greenwood, 18. Fenton Rogers, 19. Thomas Deakin, 20. Elliot Wallis, 21. Leroy Cudjoe, 23. Taane Milne, 24. Aidan McGowan, 25. Jack Billington, 28. Connor Carr, 29. George Flanagan, 30. Jack Bibby, Bill Leyland, Max Merta, Jacob Algar
21-Man Squad locked in for Sunday 🔐 #Since1895 pic.twitter.com/6zXYC8vYv0
— Huddersfield Giants 🐮🔔 (@Giantsrl) April 11, 2025
Catalans Dragons team news
Steve McNamara has made three changes from the side he named to face Salford in the Challenge Cup with three key men dropping out.
Elliott Whitehead is serving the first of his two-match ban whilst both Sam Tomkins and Nick Cotric also miss out, with the trio being replaced by Jordan Dezaria, Fouad Yaha and reserve team winger Leo Darrelatour.
Romain Navarrete remains out after sustaining a broken jaw against St Helens in an otherwise relatively healthy squad for Catalans. There will be key decisions in the spine given Tomkins’ absence and the recent departure of Arthur Mourgue.
Catalans Dragons 21-man squad: 2. Tommy MAKINSON, 3. Arthur ROMANO, 4. Reimis SMITH, 6. Luke KEARY, 8. Tevita PANGAI JR, 9. Benjamin GARCIA, 10. Julian BOUSQUET, 11. Tariq SIMS, 13. Oliver PARTINGTON, 14. Alrix DA COSTA, 15. Chris SATAE, 17. Bayley SIRONEN, 18. César ROUGE, 19. Paul SÉGUIER, 20. Jordan DEZARIA, 21. Théo FAGES, 22. Fouad YAHA, 23. Matthieu LAGUERRE, 24. Franck MARIA, 26. Guillermo AISPURO-BICHET, 29. Léo DARRELATOUR
𝗟𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗦 𝟮𝟭 ⚔️
𝑃𝑟𝑒́𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒́ 𝑝𝑎𝑟 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝𝑒 𝑃𝑒𝑦𝑟𝑜𝑡 𝐴𝑢𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠
Steve McNamara a dévoilé son groupe pour le déplacement à Huddersfield🇫🇷 https://t.co/NcCQqmaKbq
🇬🇧 https://t.co/cJUB2Wg1Bw pic.twitter.com/NUoBkuvp6H— Dragons Catalans (@DragonsOfficiel) April 11, 2025
