Former coach Sharp delighted to see six Huddersfield Giants in England squad

Oct 12 2010 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

PROUD Jon Sharp has revealed how thrilled he was to hear six players from former club Huddersfield have been selected for the England squad for the Gillette Four Nations tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Kevin Brown, Eorl Crabtree, Leroy Cudjoe, Darrell Griffin, Shaun Lunt and Luke Robinson were all named in national coach Steve McNamara’s 24-man tour party, which flew out on Friday night.

Apart from Lunt, Sharp was in Giants coaching charge of all of the club’s representatives, and was responsible for bringing Brown, Griffin and Robinson to the Galpharm, as well as giving former Newome Panthers junior Cudjoe his big Super League break.

And while Sharp is keen to acknowledge the tremendous work done by successor Nathan Brown and assistant coach Paul Anderson, the current Crusaders coach admits he felt a tremendous amount of pride when the Giants’ names were announced.

“When the news came through I was thrilled to bits, and I send them and everyone at the Giants my congratulations for what is an incredible achievement,” said Sharp.

“I’ve seen the way five of the six players have developed since I left the club two-and-a-half years ago, and I can’t speak more highly about the fantastic job Browny has done in helping them continue to progress and develop.

“Nathan is helping to continue a successful long-term strategy at the club, and if that’s to continue, then Baloo (Anderson) needs to take over when Browny decides to go.

“Even though I was disappointed to leave Huddersfield, I still love the club and I’m delighted to see how it is continuing to grow. I would like to think I played my part in helping in that growth.”

During Sharp’s time at the helm, he helped the Giants reach the 2006 Challenge Cup final and a first ever appearance in the Super League play-offs the following season.

But he admits he has gained as much pleasure from seeing how successful some of his signings have proved, with stand-off Brown, scrum half Robinson and prop Griffin the prime examples.

“When I signed Kev, he was playing in the reserves at Wigan and his career appeared to have hit a brick wall,” said Sharp. “But there was something about him that made me believe he could continue to develop in the right sort of environment. He clearly had all the attributes to develop into a super six, and that’s what he’s become.

“I then followed up Kev’s signing by bringing Luke here.

“I’ll always remember saying at the time that these two could potentially be a future England half-back pairing. I know it was a brave statement to say at the time, because they were both in their very early 20s, and there were many who didn’t exactly share my opinion!

“But I always had complete faith in their ability, and in the next couple of weeks my prediction could come true. I’d love to see it for their sake as much as anything else.

“Then there was Darrell, who really had has a fantastic second half of the season, which has clearly been the key to his selection.