One Super League signing has revealed insight on how his transfer happened and touted the team for success after ruing previous injury woes.
Huddersfield are one of the only Super League clubs to have recruited more NRL players than domestic players with the Giants raiding South Sydney Rabbitohs for three stars and also signing a Canberra Raiders man.
That Canberra man is hooker Zac Woolford, the son of former Giants coach Simon, and the 28-year-old has now told all about his move to Huddersfield including his Dad’s influence, what fans can expect and also how the Giants could ‘turn a few heads’ in 2025.
After finishing ninth in a second successive season, the Giants have looked to the NRL for their recruitment with hooker Woolford joined by South Sydney’s English prop Tom Burgess, Fijian centre Taane Milne and breakout back Jacob Gagai – who looked slated to play full-back.
Domestic recruits such as Liam Sutcliffe and George King have also arrived in what will be Luke Robinson’s first full year in charge and Woolford has now explained how the move originated.
Huddersfield Giants signing speaks on family connection
Credit: Chris Mangnall/SWpix.com
Woolford spoke with BBC West Yorkshire Sport Daily about his transfer and confirmed that it was actually his father’s connections that helped make it such a swift transfer.
He explained: “I found out through Dad actually – him and Robbo still keep close communications. Once I realised that I maybe had a chance of going to England, that connection brought Huddersfield up and it moved very very quickly from there.”
Simon Woolford coached the Giants from 2018 until 2020 with Luke Robinson serving as an assistant and then taking over on an interim basis when Woolford left. Zac has now revealed that his father touted Robinson up as someone who the 28-year-old hooker would thrive under.
He said:”There were a couple of conversations with Robbo and Dad was under the opinion that I’d thrive under his coaching style and the way he is, and so far he’s been proven right. I’ve really enjoyed working with and under Robbo and I can only see good things happening from here.
“He wouldn’t steer me somewhere that he didn’t think would be good for me and like I say – so far, he’s been spot on. I’ve really enjoyed working under Robbo and Finny (Liam Finn) as well.”
More generally on moving to Super League, Woolford backed himself to succeed in the somewhat slower but far more physical competition, explaining: “Speaking to a lot of friends who have played in Super League, Morgan Smithies who came to the Raiders last year and Elliott (Whitehead) as well, I think it (Super League style of play) will suit me.
“I’ve heard that it’s a little bit slower but a little bit more physical and being a bigger-bodied nine, I think that will definitely suit me as the game is getting ridiculously fast back home.”
Why Zac Woolford moved to Super League
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
The Giants have clearly made moves that will improve their side for 2025 after undergoing such a disappointing 2023 and 2024 leaving Woolford quietly confident at the club’s chances.
“I definitely think we’ve got a lot of potential,” he explained, before noting that the Giants could be in line for some luck with injuries after seeing stars such as Adam Swift suffer lengthy absences in 2024.
“Obviously, you need a lot of luck with injuries which they didn’t have last year, so surely we’re due, but from the month of training I’ve done the signs are there.
“We’re working really hard to turn things around. I don’t want to go off too early but I’m quietly confident that we’ll be a lot better team this year and will turn a few heads.”
At 28, he’s approaching the prime of his career which makes the former Canberra man a huge coup for the club and Woolford has explained what it was that motivated him to up sticks and leave his native Australia.
“I feel like I was maybe stuck a bit back home in a box that I couldn’t get out of,” he revealed.
“I feel that I’ve definitely got a lot of room to grow and I think this is the place to do it – which is one of the reasons why I came to England.”
