Chastened Giants at full strength for Saints showdown
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Your support makes all the difference.The Huddersfield captain, Kevin Brown, admits that the Giants were fortunate not to be punished for their complacency in the Challenge Cup last week. Huddersfield scraped home 28-18 against 12-man Batley, after trailing 18-10 to the home team.
"We definitely thought it would be a little easier than it turned out to be, and it was nearly a fatal mistake," Brown said.
The Giants resume their Super League duties against St Helens today, with their coach, Nathan Brown, hinting that his squad rotation policy will be scaled back in future.
At the Galpharm Stadium this evening, Scott Grix, Luke Robinson, David Faiumu and Jermaine MacGillvary are all brought back into a side that is as close to full strength as Brown can get it.
Saints have key men Paul Wellens and Tommy Makinson fit again, but that is more than offset by the loss of Kyle Eastmond, Tony Puletua, Chris Flannery and Andrew Dixon, who have all picked up fresh injuries.
Three young forwards – Scott Hale, Joe Greenwood and Warren Thompson – are included in the squad and at least one of them will make his Super League debut.
"It's the worst injury crisis I've experienced in my coaching career," said the Saints coach, Royce Simmons. "We're doing real good to be hanging in there, but this week we're coming up against one of the heavyweights."
There is just one fixture tomorrow, bringing together fellow strugglers Hull KR and Bradford. The Bulls have Ben Jeffries making his second debut, following his return from Wakefield this week, while Jamie Langley and Matt Diskin are also back in contention.
Clint Newton is still missing for the Robins, who include full-back Ben Cockayne, despite his club fine this week over a Facebook posting.
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