Huddersfield Giants could be coming up against a Bradford Bulls side boasting a considerable amount of size.
Head coach James Lowes is building an Odsal squad which won’t be lacking physical presence for their first season in the Kingstone Press Championship following last season’s relegation from Super League.
His pack includes the likes of experienced top-flight campaigners Paul Clough (ex-St Helens), Adam Sidlow (Salford), Jay Pitts (Wakefield) and Chev Walker (Leeds), while former Great Britain prop and Super League boss Karl Harrison has joined as assistant coach to help in the continued development of the forwards.
And Harrison is encouraged by the way Lowes has gone about his business.
“Jimmy’s brought some size in with him,” said Harrison.
“When he was a hooker at the Bulls we had some big men around him – Paul Anderson, Joe Vagana, Stuart Fielden, Brian McDermott – and he seems to be replicating that now.
“People like Samir Tahraoui and Lucas Walshaw are six foot five, Dan Fleming is another at six four, but they are all looking in good nick as well.
“We’ve got a squad that’s big in numbers also and they’ll have to perform week-in, week-out to get in the team this year.
“There’s a little bit of experience in there but some of the young boys have impressed in pre-season as well.
“We saw at Castleford last week in our first trial (they were edged out 22-14 by a strong Tigers side) that a couple of them were up to the standard.
“Pre-season’s gone really well and we’re looking forward to the start.
“Are we guaranteed a spot in Super League? No. Are we good enough? That will depend on results on the field but it certainly won’t be through a lack of effort and we’ll be ready for the challenge ahead.”
