Huddersfield Giants are without a head coach after the sacking of Ian Watson earlier this week but one man has metaphorically thrown his hat into the ring, claiming that “it’s time” for him to take the step up.
That man is Luke Robinson, Ian Watson’s assistant for the three-and-a-half seasons that Watson was at the John Smiths Stadium. Robinson was part of the Giants’ coaching set-up prior to Watson’s arrival and has taken on the interim coaching role before, doing so in 2020 when Simon Woolford stepped down.
Now, aged 39 and with four more years experience, the former Giants’ player has claimed that he believes he is ready to step up as a full-time head coach. Despite that claim, he’s put those ambitions on hold for the time being as he told BBC Radio Leeds that the primary focus right now is helping the team return to winning ways.
Huddersfield Giants have won just one of their last eight games and that victory came over lowly Hull FC. The spiralling form has seen the Giants slip to eighth in Super League and defeat today against opponents Leigh Leopards would see them leapfrogged.
Robinson’s initial response to questions about him taking the role on a permanent basis saw him bat the question back, responding: “At this moment in time, honestly, I’m just concentrating on getting the team winning.
“People have been asking me that question a lot. My sole focus is trying to get the team winning. What comes later on is something I’ll deal with.”
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Is Luke Robinson ready for the Huddersfield Giants job?
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During his interim term after the resignation of Simon Woolford, Robinson led Huddersfield Giants to three wins from eight and he has plenty of experience as both a player and an assistant coach. Moreover, he knows what it is like to represent Huddersfield Giants and that was evident when he outlined his initial plans of just restoring pride into the shirt.
“At this moment in time, my short-term goal is just trying to get the performance to improve and get the lads really buying into each other and the team,” he told BBC Radio Leeds.
“What comes on the back is probably for a later date.”
Pushed further on what could come next and if he actually feels ready for a head coaching job, Robinson was assured in his answer but still reserved a full commitment, presumably out of respect for his former colleague whom he had previously explained that he had let down.
On if he felt ready for a head coaching role, Robinson responded: “Honestly, yeah I do. I feel like it is the time. I’m not going to go too far into it, I’m not throwing it into the ring, but I’m not not throwing it in the ring.
“I think I’ve done a decent apprenticeship. I’ve worked under a lot of coaches during my playing career, I’ve worked under a lot of coaches during my coaching career now.
“I think my knowledge of the game, I back myself, but it’s not something that I’ve really thought about. This has obviously come about very quickly. My short-term goal is just to try and get some performances back from the group get us performing well and playing well for each other.”
He will go a long way in potentially staking a claim for the job if he can help Huddersfield Giants land their first win in four when they face Leigh Leopards today.
