Huddersfield Giants had a disappointing 2024 season and will be looking to make plenty of changes ahead of 2025.
Talks of a new stadium, as revealed by Serious About RL, being built have been just about the only source of hope for Giants fans recently, and they’ll be hoping Luke Robinson, now permanent head coach, can make some real changes for next year.
Some of those real changes will likely come through the club’s overseas recruitment with the Giants one of a handful of Super League teams with several vacant overseas quota spots which can hopefully be used to bring in real quality.
Ahead of 2024, the Giants filled their quota spots with the signings of Jack Murchie and Adam Clune to go alongside the likes of Kevin Naiqama, Seb Ikahihifo, Esan Marsters, Luke Yates and Tui Lolohea.
Lolohea and the 2024 signings of Murchie and Clune are the only players to remain from that batch of seven so what does Huddersfield Giants’ quota situation actually look like?
Currently, clubs can have a maximum of seven ‘non-Federation trained players’ in their squad – and these players are defined as those who didn’t play three seasons of rugby in Europe before they turned 21.
Huddersfield Giants quota situation ahead of 2025
Credit: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
As referenced, all of Esan Marsters (Salford Red Devils), Luke Yates (Huddersfield Giants), Kevin Naiqama (Retired) and Seb Ikahihifo, whose future is unconfirmed, have departed the club which leaves just three incumbent overseas quota players.
Staying on for next season is Tongan half-back Tui Lolohea who is entering his fourth season with the Giants since a move from Salford Red Devils. Joining him in the halves will be 2024 recruit Adam Clune who had an up-and-down first campaign with the club.
Fellow 2024 overseas signing Jack Murchie will be hoping to play more in 2025 after an injury-riddled first season with Huddersfield Giants with the 27-year-old playing just 11 times.
That left the Giants with four quota spots but two have been filled with new recruits in the form of Zac Woolford, son of former Huddersfield head coach Simon, and recent signing Jacob Gagai.
Woolford, a hooker, was the first of Robinson’s signings and he will replace veteran Adam Milner and be supported by young duo Thomas Deakin and Kieran Rush.
As for Jacob Gagai, he is the club’s most recent recruit and the 28-year-old winger has been hailed as someone who has been signed in part due to the culture the club is trying to create. In his debut NRL season, Gagai would score nine tries in 17 appearances but it was the fact he’s had to wait until 28 to debut that impressed Luke Robinson who praised the attitude that the outside back had shown throughout his career before earning his just rewards.
His arrival means that Huddersfield Giants still have two overseas quota spots available but no other club in Super League boast as many as that.
Contract status of Huddersfield Giants’ overseas players for 2025 (Date when contract expires)
Zac Woolford (2025)
Tui Lolohea (2026)
Jack Murchie (2026)
Adam Clune (2026)
Jacob Gagai (2026)
