Last week, because of St Helens’ World Club Challenge commitments, Huddersfield Giants had to sit and watch as Super League began.
This weekend they begin their season against Warrington Wolves but it is unlikely that star signing Jake Connor will feature as he continues his recovery from injury.
Naturally, coach Ian Watson has a high opinion of Connor and speaking to Serious About Rugby League he said Connor should have been in the England squad for the World Cup in his “bluntly honest” opinion.
He said: “Being bluntly honest about it I think he should have been in the England squad.
“The level of player he is and what he performed at last year and what he shown everybody, he should have been in there.
“He proves that he can unlock defences and when you play against a team like Australia or New Zealand you need someone who can unlock defences and come up with something a little bit against the norm.
“Australia and them teams are used to seeing the norm, what they’re not used to is seeing something that’s a little bit unpredictable and that’s what Jake Connor is good at.”
So, in his mind, Watson is a player who doesn’t get enough credit and Watson thinks the same of Tui Lolohea who he felt was the Man of Steel:
“Tui was phenomenal, for me he was Man of Steel. I’m probably going against the grain here because Brodie obviously won it but Jai Field for me and Tui.
“They were the best two all throughout the season, you can even put Bevan French in that, Jonny Lomax up there.
“You’re talking about a player like Jai Field who finished second in the league, Tui Lolohea who finished third and then Brodie wins it from six.”