Super League star could be set for exit

The 2023 Super League season seems to be a changing of the guard in respect to some of sport’s stars hanging the boots up, with James Roby set to hang it up at St Helens, and set for a swansong year just like Tommy Leuluai attempted for Wigan Warriors in 2022.

Whilst Leuluia didn’t lift the Grand Final trophy he did get his hands on the Challenge Cup with Wigan winning the competition for a record 20th time as they defeated Huddersfield Giants.

One of the players lining up against Leuluai that day was Jermaine McGillvary, the veteran winger even getting on the scoresheet to give the Giants the go-ahead try just before the hour mark.

Sadly for Huddersfield it wasn’t to be as it marked another trophyless season, with winger McGillvary having been there for plenty of them with the Giants.

He debuted for the club in 2007 and after spells on loan has become a mainstay in that number two shirt, however his future remains in doubt.

Aged 35 and without a contract for next year it’s been a torrid season for him personally and for the club, languishing outside the playoffs whilst the winger hasn’t played since July.

Head coach Ian Watson was asked about the future of the veteran winger who has over 300 Huddersfield appearances to his name, confirming that his future does remain unclear.

“Yeah it’s just the lack of games and the amount of injuries that he’s picked up this year,” Watson told BBC Sport West Yorkshire.

“It’s one for the club and himself as well to really have a little think about where they want to go.

“Jermaine has been an absolute sensational player for Huddersfield, for his country; obviously this year has been a real disappointment in most areas, not only just with Jermaine, for the amount of injuries we’ve picked up in total throughout the team.

“Jermaine’s been one of them who we’ve missed, when you can’t get your best players out on the field, your Jermaine’s and Theo’s (Fages) then they’re a big hole in your team.

“You want them to be playing games as well so the fact that they’ve not been able to is obviously not putting them in the best possible position going forward when you’re talking about contracts and other situations.”

On the fact that McGillvary has been named in the 21-man squad to face Hull KR, Watson commented on his urge to return.

“Jermaine’s been great, Jermaine’s been really good, he’s worked really hard to get back. He’s done well, he’s got back quicker than what everybody would have thought, and even he would have thought, because we thought it was probably season over; but he’s here and he’s available now, so that’s outstanding for us and outstanding for him to be able to get back in and put his hand up.”

Huddersfield face Hull KR on Friday knowing that their playoff chances are still alive by the slimmest of chances, needing to win all three games by heavy margins and hope that other contenders take points off one another.