Sharp aims to use Giants break wisely

May 27 2008 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

GIANTS chief Jon Sharp is hoping his side’s enforced mid-season break has come at just the right time.

It’s the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, so Huddersfield have a blank weekend after slumping to defeat at Hull KR earlier in the month.

The Super League fixture at Wigan on Friday week is also off to enable pitch repair work to be carried out at the JJB Stadium.

It means the Giants aren’t back in competitive action until Sunday, June 15, when they visit Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

The downside is that it gives the men from the Galpharm three weeks to dwell on Saturday’s 48-0 horror show at Catalans Dragons.

But Sharp is hoping his players are able to use this time productively.

“I know a lot of the players would have loved the opportunity to have got back out on the field this weekend to get last Saturday out of their system,” he said.

“Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen.

“Instead, it’s up to everyone to make sure we use this time as productively as possible.

“One or two players went into last week’s game carrying knocks – which is always the case with squads at this time of the season – and several others picked up bumps and bruises in France.

“There’s still a lot of hard work in front of us, and hopefully we’ll resume with a squad that’s fresh, fit and well.”