Brett Ferres is confident he’ll hit the ground running for the start of the next Super League season.
The Huddersfield vice-captain is one of the few Giants who’ll miss the opening months of pre-season work due to his big England Four Nations commitments.
Danny Brough and Joe Wardle will also miss the start of training to compete for Scotland in the European Championships.
But while their tournament is held in Scotland, Ireland and Wales in the second half of this month and they’ll be back for the bulk of the pre-season warm-up work, Ferres will be in Australia until the middle of next month and not back at the club until early December.
Yet Ferres doesn’t see that as being a major issue.
“I’m heading to Australia in pretty decent shape,” said Ferres, who’s the only Giants player involved with England.
“I know I’ll benefit from a bit of a break at the end of my time with England.
“But I didn’t feel too bad at the end of last season’s World Cup, and I’m already looking forward to getting back with the Giants.
“Obviously, my focus over the next few months is trying to secure a regular England start and help to get us as far in the competition as possible.
“And I know if we do well in that, then it’ll give me a boost before I link back up with the Giants. Everyone knows what a big year it is in Super League next year, with even more emphasis than ever on finishing in the top eight, and it’s a challenge I know we’ll all relish.”
