Huddersfield Giants boss explains player’s return to Australia and replacement plans

After Huddersfield Giants confirmed one of their player’s return to Australia, head coach Luke Robinson has explained it and discussed replacement options.

The Giants released a statement earlier today to announce that hooker Thomas Deakin would be returning to Australia for personal reasons with the Oldham-born hooker departing after making just 12 appearances for Huddersfield.

Deakin returned to England from Australia in 2024 when the Giants signed him, however, he’s now left and head coach Luke Robinson provided further reasons why.

Speaking to the BBC, Robinson said: “He’s got some personal issues that he needs to probably needs to deal with that are away from rugby so he and the club have parted ways so that he can deal with them.”

That fell in line with the club’s earlier statement, which read: “The Giants can confirm that Thomas Deakin has left the club for personal reasons and will return home to Australia. Tom featured 12 times for the Giants’ First team since joining the club back in September 2023.”

Huddersfield set for signing to “really enhance the squad”

Accepting that Deakin likely didn’t play as much as he’d have wished to when signing with the Giants under former head coach Ian Watson, Robinson noted that the 23-year-old didn’t have a lack of opportunities.

He explained: “Players that are not playing every week are always knocking on the door and rightly so. He’s had games and consistently trained.

“I say a lot of time about people getting chances but every single minute every single is filmed and is an opportunity. Every player in my squad and every other squad has an opportunity every single day. He’s probably one who hasn’t played as much as he would have liked when he first came over.”

Deakin’s exit also frees up more salary cap with Robinson confiming “there’s a little bit of wiggle room”, adding that “there might be something going on in the next couple of weeks that could really enhance the squad”.

He would go on to explain that the money likely wouldn’t be invested in another number nine, revealing that it would not be a “like for like” replacement.

When asked, he said: “Probably not if I’m honest, we’ve got Zac (Woolford) who is a standout nine. We have Rushy playing scrum-half but I think he’s probably more suited to playing nine. We’ve got (Aidan) Doolan who has been on trial for a number of weeks now, he’s getting over his injury and we’re having a look at him.”

Huddersfield Giants boss confirms injury update

There was also positive news on the injury front with two key forwards close to returning, as well as a clear plan on how to deal with Tom Burgess who has been nursing injuries through the year.

Robinson revealed: “Harry Rushton and Kingy (George King) have come back into the fold and have trained pretty well so we’ll have to make a call on them later on.”

As for England international Burgess, Robinson revealed that he has had three injections since Magic Weekend and will now recover properly with the Huddersfield coach admitting that the Giants had probably used the veteran at times when he could have done with time away.

He explained: “(Tom) Burgess is probably going to be sat out this week. He’s been carrying loads of niggles and knocks. He’s been doing it tough. I think he’s had an injection in his elbow and his knee and there might have been his hip as well which he’s been struggling with.

“He’s put his hand up and said he wants to play and put himself out on the field but with the niggles and knocks it’s been difficult for him to train. I don’t think it’s been great for him or good for us either but we’ve got an opportunity, now that we’ve got some players out, where we can let him get over those and have a real crack at it.”

After picking up their first win of the Super League season at Magic Weekend against Hull FC, the Giants now travel to face Hull KR on Saturday in what seems a tough task.