Huddersfield Giants head coach Ian Watson has confirmed that the club may have to look to send winger/centre Jake Bibby out on loan to get him game time.
Bibby signed for Huddersfield Giants ahead of the 2023 season but struggled to nail down the starting role in the backs despite playing 18 games.
He did tally up five tries but it was a far cry from his 23 tries in 55 games across the previous seasons for Wigan Warriors.
Bibby had been part of Wigan’s Challenge Cup winning side that defeated Huddersfield Giants in 2022, but he hasn’t played so far in 2024.
New recruits Adam Swift and Elliot Wallis have assumed the starting positions on the wing with both men already on the scoresheet, whilst quota players Esan Marsters and Kevin Naiqama have starred in the centres, prompting talk that Bibby could head elsewhere for game time.
Speaking to the press today, Ian Watson was asked about Hull FC as a possible destination, something that he was unaware of.
Watson responded: “Not had anything from that mate, I don’t know about that one, nobody’s asked about Jake or no-one’s come to me and asked me about Jake anyway.
“Jake’s been head down trying to work hard, he’s focused, he’s trying to play for Huddersfield. He signed a contract for Huddersfield and he’s more than happy with it, but obviously like most players they want to play at some point and they want to get game time.”
Ian Watson hails “Super League quality” of Huddersfield Giants winger
Bibby might not have played this season so far but it has been confirmed that he will be playing for the reserves this weekend as Watson looks to get him up to fitness should he be required.
He explained: “He’ll play this weekend for our reserves to get a little bit of a game but sometimes you’ve got to look at the quality and the level of player that you’re dealing with and Super League is the level that Jake deserves to be playing at.
“In order to get him right and get him up to speed for when he does come in and play for us we’re going to probably have to look at something like that in probably not the too distant future to be fair.”
A number of sides in Super League could make a move for the Huddersfield Giants winger with the aforementioned Hull FC as a potential landing spot, but also Leigh Leopards who have seen Tom Briscoe hit with an injury issue.
Briscoe will miss at least six weeks after tearing his calf in the clash with St Helens last week and that leaves a spot on Leigh’s starting wing open, somewhere that Bibby could land once he gets up to speed.
