Ian Watson tips Chris Hill and one surprise other to put “their hands up for the World Cup”

After all-conquering Champions St Helens, Huddersfield might just be the next happiest team in the Super League.

They’ve only lost twice one of which came against the high flying Wigan in which they were arguably the better team. They have also beaten last year’s table toppers Catalans Dragons at home.

On top of that, two moments of brilliance from Tui Lolohea sent the Giants into the final four of the Challenge Cup yesterday. It sees them play a Challenge Cup semi-final for the first time in a decade as they look to end a 69-year wait for Challenge Cup glory.

Lolohea is just one of many in form players for the Giants including the likes of Luke Yates and especially Chris Hill who has proved the doubters wrong in 2022 to be one of the best props in the league making metres galore – more than Alex Walmsley even – and giving the Giants a real platform in every game they play.

It has resulted in calls for the former England international to be recalled by Shaun Wane but when asked about whether Hill should be in the England squad after yesterday’s quarter-final, Huddersfield coach Ian Watson said it was up to Shaun Wane but if he’s picking on form Hill has to be a contender as do one or two others in his squad.

“That’s Shaun’s decision to make,” Watson said, “He said he’d be picking on form. If he’s picking on form at the moment you’re looking at Chris Hill. Joe Greenwood is doing phenomenally well as well. We’ve got some good British players here who could be putting their hands up for the World Cup.”

So could we see Hill back in an England shirt by the time the World Cup comes around? In Watson’s view we may even see Joe Greenwood line up alongside him after rekindling his career at Huddersfield becoming a superb asset for Watson acting as a middle after years of being an excellent backrower. Now a mobile and dynamic prop, he could be an outside bet to figure in Wane’s World Cup squad.