Huddersfield Giants started their 2026 pre-season with a win as they defeated one of the Super League new boys in forward Matty English’s testimonial match.
English was granted a testimonial after ten years of service at the club with the forward starting at prop in a new-look pack that featured signings Chris Patolo and Asher O’Donnell, as well as last year’s mid-season recruit Tristan Powell.
New club captain Adam Clune partnered Tui Lolohea in the halves with Niall Evalds also starting at full-back as the Giants went close to full strength with one of their other new signings, Mathieu Cozza, playing from the bench.
Their opponents, York Knights, also named a handful of new signings with ex-Sydney Roosters man Xavier Va’a playing from the bench, whilst new recruits Justin Sangare, Nikau Williams, Sam Wood and Jordan Lipp all started.
King Vuniyayawa also started with the ex-Salford man having signed for Newcastle Thunder but seemingly being loaned to the Super League side for this game, a game that they lost 22-4 with Ben Jones-Bishop their only try-scorer.
York Knights taste defeat against Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield started the scoring with Sam Halsall crossing over after 20 minutes and at that point, the tries flowed before the half-time hooter with Sam Hewitt and Niall Evalds both scoring in quick succession to make it 16-0 at the break.
Jones-Bishop got one back soon after the restart but Huddersfield added a fourth try when former Hull KR man George King barged over.
York did test the Giants but it will be a reality check for the Knights who went on a 20-game winning run at one point in 2025, whilst Huddersfield will see the win as the first of their new ‘Giants Unleashed’ era.
Both sides have more pre-season games to come and they’ll also be in Challenge Cup action before the start of the Super League season, with York opening the campaign up with a visit from Hull KR whilst Huddersfield take on Catalans Dragons in France.
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It’s a win in Matty English’s testimonial! 👊#GiantsUnleashed pic.twitter.com/3rn53FxgE0
— Huddersfield Giants 🐮🔔 (@Giantsrl) January 17, 2026
