At the end of April, the Super League season looked to be going so well for the Huddersfield Giants. A stirring 30-24 comeback win against the Leeds Rhinos had thrust Ian Watson’s men into the playoff picture. A heart-breaking 13-12 defeat against St Helens suggested they could compete with the league’s top sides.
However, a spectacular slump in form which has seen the Giants win just one game in eight attempts, including a humbling 46-10 defeat against the Warrington Wolves in the Challenge Cup semi-final, has seen the Giants slip back from playoff contention.
Their first-half performance against playoff rivals, the Catalans Dragons, prompted a furious reaction from the Huddersfield fan base. Head coach, Ian Watson, who had already faced questions over his methods, is now under serious pressure following their latest defeat.
The Giants produced a much improved second-half performance, in which they threatened to overturn their 22-point deficit. However, they eventually went down to a 22-18 defeat.
In the week in which their other main playoff contenders, Leeds Rhinos, decided to remove their Head Coach, Rohan Smith, Huddersfield’s fans have taken to social media to share their reactions to this latest defeat.
QUIZ: Can you name the runners-up from every Super League Grand Final?
Huddersfield Giants fans share furious reaction to defeat
Credit: Imago Images
The Giants latest defeat in the South of France is the latest in a string of sub-par performances from a side who are lacking spark in attack. Before today, Huddersfield had scored more than 10 points in a game just once in their last five games.
Watson has taken the decision to freeze out Jake Connor in recent weeks, but the decision appears to be having a limited impact on the Giants side.
On the Sky Sports coverage of the game, Ian Watson was reported to have described the Giants’ first-half performance as a “total mess”. However, his side produced a much improved second half performance, just falling short of a stirring comeback win.
Judging from fan reaction on social media, the blame for this lies squarely at Watson’s door. One fan described the first half performance as embarassingg, before calling for Watson to depart mid-way through the first half.
WATSON OUT…. Embarrassing if he’s still got a job after this !
— Daryl Slinn (@darylslinn) June 22, 2024
One fan, seemingly tweeting from the ground at half time, bemoaned spending £800 on the journey to watch his side.
Shocking. Can’t believe I’ve spent £800 coming to watch this
— Dan (@ward__dan) June 22, 2024
Another fan called for the team to travel home without Watson, as the fans appear to have stopped playing for the coach.
Might as well leave Watto in France. Not one player wants to play for the shirt.
— Oliver Eaton (@OliverEatonUK) June 22, 2024
Another fan called for Watson to be sacked at half-time.
I would sack him at half time for sure they all just went there on Thursday for a piss up .
— Michael johnson (@Michaeljoh007) June 22, 2024
However, at full time, fans remained unconvinced by their side’s fightback. One fan continued the calls for Watson to go.
Watson has to go. We’ve won 1 in 8.
— fred (@razza_f) June 22, 2024
Another side believed the comeback only served to paper over the cracks.
Papers over the cracks. Embarrassing performance for 30-35 mins. Boys need to be ready to go from minute one. Mistake after mistake to start us off! Half that squad and bring in some quality then play the youngsters when in need!!
— Danny Mitch (@Danmitchell1995) June 22, 2024
Another believes fans should not be fooled by the second half performance.
Never mind the second half, that’s 7 defeats in 8. Watson out.
— Josh Phillips (@JoshPhillips180) June 22, 2024
Giants face uphill battle to make playoffs
Credit: Imago Images
Defeat in the South of France leaves the Giants six points behind Les Dracs and the Salford Red Devils, who are currently on 18 points. Salford still have to play their game this weekend and host St Helens on Sunday.
July’s fixtures will more than likely define the rest of Huddersfield’s season, as they face a run of crucial encounters against the sides around them in the table. Huddersfield Giants travel to Warrington to face the Wolves, before facing the Leigh Leopards away. They then host Salford at the John Smiths Stadium before the Rhinos travel to Leeds at the end of July.
If Huddersfield are unable to turn around their current slump in form, then they may be well and truly cut-off from the top six by the end of next month. The club now has a decision to make over Watson’s future, and whether they believe he is the right person to turn the club’s fortunes around.
International breaks are a dangerous time for head coaches in all sports. Could the Giants decide to use the break as the right time to press the reset button and change coach? Only time will tell.
