Huddersfield Giants fans have finally had some positive news land in what has been a torrid season, as head coach Jim Lenihan has now announced the signing of an NRL forward for the upcoming 2027 season.
Lenihan has often spoken about how young the core of the Giants’ pack is, with many players under the age of 25, but they’ve now added an NRL veteran to help complement those developing players.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, Lenihan confirmed that the Giants have signed 29-year-old Jaimin Jolliffe for 2027, with the Ireland international boasting over 100 NRL appearances to his name.
All of those games have come for Gold Coast Titans but Jolliffe will swap the sunny beaches for Huddersfield with Lenihan announcing his signing today.
“We’ve got Jimmy Jolliffe for next year, so that’s been good,” the Australian coach confirmed when asked about reports.
“He’ll be a really good addition for us. He’s played a lot of first grade at the Titans. He’ll be 30-years-old and add to what we’re doing with our middles right now.”
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Huddersfield Giants boss on Jaimin Jolliffe and Jacob Gagai
On what Jolliffe will bring to the Giants, Lenihan pointed to the prop’s character whilst also referencing the fact he will serve as a senior middle to aid the younger forwards.
Lenihan said: “I think he contributes really well. He’s got great character, he’ll add to us off the field and add to our leadership on the football field.
“The majority of our forwards playing at the time are all around 24 so getting in Jimmy at 29, turning 30, is a great age for us.
“He comes with a lot of experience of NRL and he’s a proper first-grade NRL player. He still had opportunities to stay over there but he’s looking at a change and I think it’s a good change for him and a good change for us.”
Also discussed was the reported interest in Jacob Gagai with clubs such as Wigan Warriors and Catalans Dragons linked with the back, whose deal expires at the end of the year.
On those contract talks, Lenihan said: “We’re still going through that process at the moment with Gags and Taane (Milne) and blokes like that.
“We’re going through that with all our playing staff about who we can keep and who we can’t.
“That will be an ever-evolving space over the next month or so.”
