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2026 Season Review: Huddersfield Giants

5 hrs

Giant hopes. Huddersfield click late in season after coaching switch.

Finishing 12th in Betfred Super League wouldn’t ordinarily be cause for optimism at Huddersfield, but the Giants’ finish to their 2026 campaign hints at a change in fortunes at the club.

That positivity looked a long way away in mid-July - with just two wins from their opening 19 matches and eight straight defeats under the newly appointed Jim Lenihan leaving them adrift at the foot of the table.

But there had been clear signs in defeat that the Giants were becoming more competitive under the man who replaced Luke Robinson following his departure in March, and things suddenly came together during the season run-in.

Four straight wins and a final day victory over Castleford hoisted Huddersfield away from bottom spot and raised hopes that Lenihan can be the man to get the Giants challenging for a Play-Offs spot again in coming seasons.

The Australian injected a renewed collective approach within the squad, and they were aided by the return of key players who were often unavailable to Robinson during a tough early season run of injuries.

That meant there were few constants across the entire campaign within the Giants squad, but of those that were, Jacob Gagai had an outstanding year in the three-quarters and will take some replacing as he heads to Warrington.

Zac Woolford and Tristan Powell were models of consistency in the pack, Harry Rushton’s influence at loose forward grew after his own injury issues and Tui Lolohea helped hold the side together from half-back throughout the campaign.

The mid-season arrivals of Australian duo Cole Geyer and Zane Dunford added to the pack, while full-back George Flanagan and centre Connor Wrench added quality to the side after also spending time on the sidelines.

One of the biggest positives was the emergence of teenager three-quarter Lewis Jagger as a genuine first teamer late in the year, one of a cluster of young players the club hopes can help shape its future.

But there will also be a feeling of what might have been had the likes of Niall Evalds, Adam Clune, Adam Swift, Tom Burgess and Sam Halsall been able to make more appearances.

Now, the club starts a new era off the field as well as under it under Lenihan.

A move to Dewsbury Rams’ Flair Stadium has certainly created discussion both inside and outside of the club, with the Giants promising to return to the town in the long-term future while pledging £10million of development in the facility in the meantime.

“The Flair Stadium is the perfect location for us, it will have the right capacity and facilities for the Giants and its fans to thrive while we continue the search for our permanent home,” owner Ken Davy explained.

“Our one giant future starts now.”

With Lenihan having a full pre-season to work with his squad, Huddersfield will be hoping that positive outlook is reflected on the field in 2027.

TOP TEAM-MATE

Australian hooker Zac Woolford maintained his levels of commitment and performance whatever the scoreboard was showing.

YOUNG GUN

Athletic outside back Lewis Jagger impressed with his physicality aged just 18 and looks set for a bright future in the game.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

July’s win at York snapped a 12-match losing streak, eight of them with new coach Jim Lenihan in charge, and sparked a run of four straight wins to revive Huddersfield’s campaign.