Huddersfield Giants remain without a head coach after the dismissal of Ian Watson almost a fortnight ago but current interim coach Luke Robinson has made it clear that he is very keen to take the role on a permanent basis.
Robinson was Ian Watson’s assistant during Watson’s tenure at the John Smiths Stadium and he has been appointed as the interim coach, just as he was in 2020 after the resignation of Simon Woolford. That year Robinson won three of the eight games that he took charge of and this season he’s one from two.
However, there has been a clear improvement in both performances with the Giants losing narrowly to Leigh Leopards last week in a game where they scored the same number of tries, before securing the 16-8 win over Salford on Friday night.
That win marked just the club’s second in eleven games, highlighting the torrid run of form that they had suffered. With the hope of making the playoffs now a distant thought, the final nine games of the season will continue to be about Robinson’s main ethos of ‘restoring pride in the shirt’.
Having played over 200 games for Huddersfield Giants himself, it’s something that the former player knows all about and he has clearly got that message across to his squad. Another message that he made loud and clear in his post-game press conference on Friday was that he wants the job on a permanent basis.
Super League Quiz: How many of these 15 questions can you get correct?
What Luke Robinson said about wanting the Huddersfield Giants job
Credit: Imago Images
Speaking to BBC West Yorkshire, Robinson spoke in the aftermath of the 16-8 win with Adam Milner’s 79th minute try making the score look a lot less tense than the game was. Despite that, Robinson heaped the praise on his players as he highlighted the improved effort once again.
He explained: “I thought they were brilliant from minute one and I thought they really dug in for each other and the effort and desire was amazing.”
Effort had been something that previous coach Ian Watson questioned and it is a key indicator as to their improved form, not that Robinson would admit as he tried to answer a question about where the team’s new-found confidence had come from.
“It happens in many different sports, not just rugby league. Sometimes you don’t know where confidence goes and where it comes back from.At this moment in time, we’ve just come together really and had open, honest conversations”
Asked the looming question about whether he wants the job or if he’d had any indication of whether he’s in the frame for it, he offered up another very honest answer as he made it clear that he feels ready after serving his ‘apprenticeship’.
He explained: “Look, I honestly think I can do a really good job. I’ve played a lot of years as a player. I think I started in 2002 as a player so I’ve been around the block quite a while.
“I’ve seen a lot of coaches and worked under some brilliant ones and some not so good ones. I think I’ve done a decent apprenticeship as a coach now.”
Despite that desire to take the role on permanently, he was keen to explain that he’s also willing to support a possible outside hire and remain on as the assistant before confirming he has “no idea” on the time scale of a new hire.
“I’ve also said to you previously and I’m not in any rush here, if the club decide that it’s not my time and they bring somebody else in, I’m more than happy to assist because all I want is this group of players to fulfil their potential and the club to fulfil theirs. It’s more about them than it is me.
“I have no idea. I probably have as much idea as you.”
