Pack attack!

Mar 29 2008 By Adrian Sudbury

GIANTS coach Jon Sharp has called on his forwards to rise to the challenge and lead his side to a first Super League away win of the season at Hull KR tomorrow (3.00).

All three of Huddersfield’s victories in 2008 have been achieved at the Galpharm, including Easter Monday’s 28-26 triumph over star-studded St Helens.

Victory that day was based on a powerful pack display, with the likes of prop Darrell Griffin and boyhood Hull KR fan Steve Snitch leading by example.

And Sharp knows it’ll once again be down to the big men to lay the foundations for success at New Craven Park.

"After winning against St Helens on Monday, we’ll be travelling over to Hull tomorrow feeling confident, but not over-confident," said Sharp, whose 19-man squad is the same as Monday’s.

"We all know this match is going to be physical, and I know we have the players who will relish that sort of challenge.

"Hull KR are a big team and have a big pack, and they have smart halves who are extremely effective if their forwards get on top.

"Preventing them from doing that is a priority.

"But I think we have shown we have the players capable of coming out on top in this crucial battle.

"I thought all our forwards were strong against St Helens on Monday and they did a magnificent job wearing their opponents down.

"They need to produce a similar effort tomorrow to make sure we come out on top.

"But there’s an added challenge when you come into the first game after the busy Easter programme.

"At this time of the year it’s a case of wrapping the players up in cotton wool and trying to keep them as fresh as possible for the games.

"Hopefully, we’ll have got the right balance."

As well as the Giants performance, there will also be a fair amount of attention focused on the referee.

Disciplinary chiefs have announced controversial referee Phil Bentham will be in charge of tomorrow’s game.

He was, of course, the man in the middle when Huddersfield were beaten 13 days ago by Wigan, prompting Sharp to criticise the inconsistent way he handled the game.