HUDDERSFIELD Giants have hailed the arrival of Robbie Hunter-Paul for a second time.

His success when he first signed from Bradford Bulls for the start of the 2006 season was phenomenal.

By the end of that first year, the former New Zealand Test star had played a leading role in helping Huddersfield reach their first Challenge Cup final in 44 years.

And in his second season he made sure the Giants continued to be a Super league success, both on and off the field.

His ability to help raise the profile of a ‘sleeping giant’ was there for all to see.

Unfortunately, the demands of being a top professional since the age of 18 when he arrived in England to eventually become a Bradford Bulls legend, began to take its toll.

He was allowed to leave the Giants at the end of 2007 to join Salford City Reds, who were in a position to guarantee him Super League action on a far more regular basis.

Then he moved to highly-ambitious Co-operative Championship club Leigh Centurions before deciding to hang up his boots at the end of last season.

At 35, Father Time had finally caught up.

But while nature stepped in to force one of Super League’s most endearing characters onto the sidelines, the energy, drive and passion for rugby league in Hunter-Paul remained.