HUDDERSFIELD SEASON REVIEW: So near yet so far

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After a 2019 season where Huddersfield went into the final round needing a win to guarantee survival, 2020 was a lot more comfortable, if not still tinged with frustration.

The Giants finished in an improved 7th spot, but a record of seven wins and 11 losses still allows substantial room for improvement. Especially when four of those wins came in the first five rounds.

Before March 2020, we were all in a much happier place and Huddersfield were no exception to that. With four of their opening five games being played away from home (with their Leeds home match postponed) and a meagre 2019, you would have expected Huddersfield to have continued with their struggles.

Eyebrows were raised when the Giants went to Perpignan, against a much-fancied Catalans side and won. It was the manner of the victory that especially caught the eye, a 20 point winning margin with a 16-point haul for new signing Aidan Sezer giving hope that this year would be different.

Victories over Salford and Hull KR followed and Huddersfield were topping the table. The real test came the following week at home to Wigan and they were blown away by 42-10. With St Helens away being their next fixture, logic was that the bubble had burst.

Not so. Huddersfield soaked up a lot of pressure before launching a 70 metre sucker-punch from exciting centre Jake Wardle to stun the champions. Things were looking up again. This was before lockdown brought Huddersfield, the sport and us all back down.

Huddersfield played 13 games after lockdown. They lost five of those games by four points or less. The most heart-wrenching of those will have been August's defeat to Leeds, where a 20 point lead was blown and resulted in the most unlikely of golden point defeats. With each narrow loss, Huddersfield's play off hopes faded and the season ended in an inauspicious manner.

Head coach Simon Woolford was doing a good job. It was a surprise to see that he would be leaving at the end of the season. Perhaps less of a surprise to see the tenure ended early following the unexpected announcement.

I, amongst others questioned the wisdom of this move. But Huddersfield's recruitment of Ian Watson silenced the doubters. Watson has achieved so much at Salford with so little. At Huddersfield, he will have greater resource and a chance to take on a challenge. The aim? To take Huddersfield back to where they were from 2013 to 2015, back to the play offs and back to being contenders.

I mentioned earlier that Huddersfield lost five games by less than a score from their final 13 matches. If some of those losses turned to victories, a play off berth may have been secured. At the same time as Huddersfield were suffering several narrow defeats, Ian Watson led Salford to five wins by less than one score. These included two impressive Challenge Cup wins over Catalans and Warrington.

If Watson can turn Huddersfield into a side that generally wins rather than loses close games, then we will soon see them moving up the league table and launching a genuine play off challenge.

Watson has wasted no time in re-shaping his squad. Jordan Turner and Suaia Matagi have both been sent on loan to Castleford, despite being first team regulars in 2020. But, Jack Ashworth and Joe Greenwood have both being recruited as replacements, with James Cunningham a smart signing as a back-up hooker, an area where Huddersfield lacked depth.

Jack Cogger has also been brought in from the NRL, where he is expected to offer competition to the current half backs. If the rumour mill is to be believed, then Watson is attempting to bring in Luke Yates from Salford, which would be a big signing.

Huddersfield's best signings for next year may have sneaked under the radar. Greg Brown, Salford's conditioning coach and Carl Foulstone, Salford rehabilitation coach both moved across the Pennines with Watson.

Brown has worked for Huddersfield before. It is not a coincidence that was during Huddersfield's table-topping season of 2013.

Watson is clearly not one to shy away from a challenge and when hearing him speak about Huddersfield, the potential seems to excite him. A top quality side won't be built overnight, but 2021 may be the year that the sleeping Giant starts to wake up. 

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