There have been a number of surprising Super League developments in 2022.
Warrington Wolves have floundered when many expected them to be near the Grand Final, Salford Red Devils have belied their low salary cap spend to be in with a shout of the play-offs whilst both Hull FC and Hull KR have fallen the top six.
Another potential surprising development has been that of Huddersfield Giants.
After a dismal 2021 Super League season, Ian Watson’s men have been rejuvenated in 2022, with Huddersfield’s low-risk, high completion play taking the Giants up to third in the table as well as to a Challenge Cup Final.
For Sky Sports pundit Phil Clarke, it is Huddersfield who have been his choice for ‘Club of the Year’ after that stellar transformation.
“I think whatever happens from now on Huddersfield are the club of the year,” Clarke said live on Sky Sports.
“They got to the Challenge Cup Final and were unlucky not to win it and they have moved from ninth to third – their only question is the confidence through the squad.”
Clarke also believes that Huddersfield need to mentally get over the loss in that Challenge Cup Final to have any chance of making the Grand Final and winning it.
“Their trophy cabinet doesn’t have that Leeds or St Helens have over the last ten or 20 years.
“There is a decent side in there and the mental challenge is now to get over the Challenge Cup Final to get to the Grand Final.”
Watson, of course, had some great success at the Salford Red Devils, helping the club to a Challenge Cup Final as well as a Grand Final before making the move to the John Smith’s Stadium ahead of the 2021 Super League season.
Since then, Watson has put his stamp on the Giants’ squad and turned them into genuine competitors for silverware.
