Jake Connor rejects this narrative about his on field antics

There is an idea that Jake Connor can be a liability on the pitch because of his ability to wind people up and get wound up by rival players.

However, Connor has rejected this narrative on BBC Radio Leeds:

“I don’t think I am, I think I compete and that’s all I’ve done all my life. Sometimes I take it too far but I think those days are well gone now.

“I’ve kind of calmed down a little bit but I’ve still got that competitiveness in me and I think that’s what brings it out of me.

“I just like to wind people up and I always have done, I’ll probably carry on doing it as well.

“People like to think they can wind me up when I react to them but that’s just me anyway. I think the best battle I’ve had is probably Tony Gigot. He’s one who’s rattled me but he’s kind of similar to me, that’s the only one I can think of.”

Connor also spoke about enjoying his time back at Huddersfield Giants:

“I’m loving it. It’s been a good change for me and definitely what I needed. It’s totally different to what I had last year and they’ve been great for me and kept on top of what I need to do.

“I can be a bit slack sometimes in how I train and kind of get away with stuff but they’re not letting me. This year it’s benefitting me.

“Looking back I’d been out eight months, not done any pre-season and then been thrown in having not really done any team stuff so I’m still looking to get to grips of what I need to do and how I play in this team.

“It’s been quite challenging coming off two operations but I’m looking to pick some form up, just slowly and steady get my body back into it and get some consistency.

“Four games in now and it takes time, I thought I’d get straight back to how I was playing last year but there’s absolutely no chance of that because it takes time. I’ve just been trying to improve every week and mainly focusing on fitness and defence because I know what I can do with the ball.”