Challenge Cup Preview #1 - Jermaine McGillvary

Two clubs reach the Challenge Cup Final every year. But there's always more to it than that. As much as a club has its name engraved on the trophy come the end of the final, the individual stories are often the more fascinating. In this piece, we look at the backstory of a Huddersfield hero who will take to the field on Saturday.

Jermaine McGillvary is the epitome of loyalty. A product of the club's academy system, Huddersfield born and bred, and with the exception of brief loan periods at Barrow and Batley, a one-club man. 

In a recent press interview, McGillvary recalled his experience of Huddersfield's last Challenge Cup Final in 2009. He travelled with the reserve team and sat amongst the Huddersfield fans. On that day, it was Warrington, rather than Huddersfield, who ended a long wait for Challenge Cup success. It has taken 13 years, the length of McGillvary's career, for Huddersfield to reach a major final again.

In the mid 2010's, as McGillvary emerged into the team, it didn't look like it would be this way. In 2013, Huddersfield topped the Super League table but fell short in a semi final against Warrington. In 2015, Huddersfield went into the final day of the season in a three way battle for the League Leaders' Shield, but finished third before being humbled by Wigan in the play offs. Since then, McGillvary has had highs and lows.

His club career was characterised more by relegation battles, with near misses in 2016 and 2019. Meanwhile, by 2015, he emerged onto the international scene and never looked back. His power made him one of the first names on the England teamsheet under different coaches. The 2017 World Cup saw him garner wider attention. He was arguably England's best player as they fell agonisingly short in a World Cup final.

McGillvary isn't afraid to say what he thinks. In that 2017 World Cup, he was the subject of a nefarious biting allegation by well-known grub, Robbie Farah. McGillvary was cleared by the disciplinary panel in just three minutes. After the hearing, McGillvary publicly defended himself, describing the allegation as 'outrageous' and highlighted his anger at the damage done to his reputation. In reality, it was Farah's reputation that had been damaged.

In both 2021 and 2022, McGillvary has criticised the management of Super League. Just a few weeks ago, he stated that the quality of player and matchday experience has declined over his career. And after the semi final success, McGillvary led a rallying cry for the Huddersfield public to back the team in their thousands at Tottenham, not being afraid to address the club's low attendances.

One thing that you cannot question about McGillvary is his loyalty. He has openly admitted that he has declined moves to 'bigger' clubs, including to the NRL. When asked about this, McGillvary referenced that he was working in a warehouse before Huddersfield 'took a chance' (his words) on him.

Perhaps this is what gives McGillvary his sense of loyalty. Or, in his straight-talking and humble words "it's not like I've been paid poorly either". On Saturday, McGillvary will play in his first major domestic final. It's an long overdue honour that no-one could begrudge him. Will Saturday be the day that he collects the trophy that his career so richly deserves?