2023 Season Review: Huddersfield Giants

9 Nov 2023

An eye-catching close season recruitment campaign and the promise of further progression under respected coach Ian Watson had some pundits predicting a genuine title challenge for Huddersfield Giants in 2023.

But that never materialised for the 2022 Betfred Challenge Cup finalists, and the Giants finished the year in a disappointing ninth after a campaign that never lived up to lofty expectations.

There was early promise despite an opening defeat at home to Warrington, with three wins from five following and the two defeats being narrow losses to Wigan and St Helens in which Huddersfield competed fully.

Brilliant break-away try from @GiantsRL ?

On their way to a big win over the Dragons ?#SuperLeague #SLHudCat pic.twitter.com/hPqbSka84u
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 14, 2023

Round Nine saw an accomplished 26-14 win over Catalans Dragons which hinted at better things ahead, but consecutive defeats followed - to Hull FC, Hull KR and Leigh - before Salford knocked the Giants out of this year's Challenge Cup in a chaotic 42-40 game.

Magic Weekend brought a crushing 48-6 setback to Saints at St James' Park and by late June Watson's men were floundering in 10th after a run of four straight defeats - among them a 54-0 loss at Leeds Rhinos.

"It was a terrible beginning, a terrible middle and a terrible end," Watson lamented after that game.

"It was nowhere near - no resilience, no attitude to build pressure, just not good enough, embarrassing.

"Maybe some players have got a little bit too comfortable. I like to think that everyone plays the game like it's going to be their last, and I didn't see that out there and it hurts badly."

But - after an improved display in defeat at Wigan - Huddersfield then stirred and put together their most consistent spell of the season. They won impressively in Perpignan before beating Wakefield, Hull FC and Castleford - with Sam Halsall scoring a hat-trick - to raise hopes of a late play-offs charge.

A HUGE try from @McQueen1070! ?

Could that be the winner for @Giantsrl? ?

? @SkySportsRL | #SLHudHul pic.twitter.com/ZfCc3h7jH4
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 27, 2023

Suddenly, the Giants were firmly back in the race - although with plenty of work still to do.

"We showed great character," Watson noted after the Castleford win.

"The defensive mentality was awesome - the way the boys worked for each other was class.

"I always had confidence in the players, but we look a hell of a lot more like us in the last four games and hopefully that can continue."

It couldn't, however, as the Giants again struggled to string wins together, with an 8-32 home loss to Salford particularly damaging to their Play-Off hopes.

As a result, a season that started with much promise petered out somewhat, prompting significant changes in the squad ahead of 2024.

In 2023, among Watson's best performers were experienced overseas duo Kevin Naiqama and Chris McQueen, who were the side's top two try scorers and constant threats for opposition defences on the edges.

Chris Hill and Luke Yates were two constants up front who maintained their high standards, with the latter finishing as the competition's top tackler with a remarkable 1,027, an average of over 40 per game.

Former Wigan Academy youngster Halsall emerged as a genuine talent on the wing and Jermaine McGillvary continued to produce the goods at 35, with his end of season exit a hot topic among Huddersfield supporters.

Several others will join him in leaving for pastures new, and as for the class of 2023, an inability to have a settled, consistent spine despite the presence of Jake Connor, Tui Lolohea, Theo Fages, Oliver Russell and Will Pryce seemed to be at the centre of the Giants' issues.

In Watson, they have a shrewd coach who took Salford to a Grand Final and has plenty of ability at his disposal - fitting it all together in a more effective way will be the challenge for next year.

A number of recruits from Down Under have been mooted, with Parramatta forward Jack Murchie and Sydney Roosters hooker Thomas Deakin the first to be confirmed, alongside Newcastle Knights half back Adam Clune.

With the departures list already in double figures it will be a new-look squad for 2024 as Huddersfield look to become Grand Final contenders again.

Key man

In what was his final season before retiring, Chris McQueen again stood tall for Huddersfield Giants. The Australian-born, former England international remained a constant threat out wide for Ian Watson's side to finish as their second top try scorer, behind another big contributor in Kevin Naiqama. McQueen's consistency in the back row was one of few constants in the Giants' performances all season and his departure undoubtedly leaves a big hole to fill.

Sam Halsall with his second try of the night ?@Giantsrl hit the front against the Dragons ?#SuperLeague #SLHudCat pic.twitter.com/XQua2HamMb
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 14, 2023

Rising star

The wing position looked to be one of the most competitive in the Huddersfield squad at the start of the season with the likes of Jermaine McGillvary, Jake Bibby, Innes Senior and several others capable of playing out wide. But by the end of the campaign it was 22-year-old Sam Halsall who had become one of the first names on the team sheet after an eye-catching, prolific second half of the year.

Season highlight

When Huddersfield's accomplished 28-0 win at Castleford in early August made it four wins in a row - a run that started at high-flying Catalans - it looked like the Giants' stuttering campaign had finally kicked into gear. But that was as good as it got for Ian Watson's side in their hunt for the Play-Offs, with four defeats in the following five matches seeing them slip out of contention.