Ian Watson says Huddersfield were the better team against Wigan

On Friday night, the Huddersfield Giants came up short against Wigan Warriors in a game that was much too similar to the Giants’ heartbreaking last minute Challenge Cup Final defeat to the Warriors in 2022.

It was a game that again emphasised that these two could be well in the mix for the title again in 2023 and again Giants coach Watson felt that his side were the better team against Wigan.

He said:

“I thought both sets of middles went after each other. I thought there wasn’t much given. It was a pretty physical game to be fair.

“I thought overall, but we said this in the Challenge Cup Final, we looked the overall better team but you come up losing the game because of small little things.”

Watson was also full of praise for new signing Harry Rushton on debut:

“Outstanding, I thought he was great. I was really excited this morning, I have been excited since I knew he was playing to be fair.

“I wanted to see him in our team. He is a great young kid and we wanted to get him in there and have a good look.

“I thought today he did great. He came on in the middle, carried the ball well and was tough.

“He then had to go on the edge for us and he did really well especially when he had some tough assignments when Jai Field was trying to run around him.

“I thought he did really well.”

He had to move to the backrow because of Josh Jones’ head injury.

Watson gave an update:

“He failed his HIA. Jake Bibby rolled his ankle.”