Explosive pack duo Craig Huby and Sebastine Ikahihifo have been included in new head coach Rick Stone’s first Huddersfield Giants 19-man squad.
And the fit-again forwards have been joined in the provisional line-up for Sunday’s home Super League XXI clash against St Helens by new wing signing Gene Ormsby following his arrival from Warrington Wolves.
Fellow new recruit and blockbusting back-rower Ikahihifo hasn’t played since suffering a broken jaw in his second game for the club at Widnes in late May, while prop Huby has been sidelined with a shoulder problem suffered a month earlier.
But while the return of the powerful pack pair is good news for Stone as he prepares to take charge of the Giants for the first time this weekend, he has lost half-back Jamie Ellis with a slight knock picked up during last Friday’s 20-19 defeat at Hull KR which confirmed Huddersfield’s place in the Middle 8s.
“I’ve worked very closely with (assistants) Chris Thorman and Luke Robinson in picking this squad,” said Stone, who has studied the Giants’ last three Super League games on DVD in great detail.
“I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what the boys can do,
“There’s some real talent in this group and we will be looking at changing a few things in an effort to get the best out of everybody.”
Giants: Jermaine McGillvary, Leroy Cudjoe, Aaron Murphy, Danny Brough, Eorl Crabtree, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Craig Huby, Tom Symonds, Michael Lawrence, Kyle Wood, Sam Rapira, Ukuma Ta’ai, Jake Connor, Kruise Leeming, Nathan Mason, Oliver Roberts, Ryan Brierley, Gene Ormsby, Sebastine Ikahihifo.
St Helens: Jonny Lomax, Jordan Turner, Mark Percival, Adam Swift, Luke Walsh, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Kyle Amor, Atelea Vea, Jon Wilkin, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Lama Tasi, Greg Richards, Luke Thompson, Joe Greenwood, Jack Owens, Shannon McDonnell, Matty Fleming, Morgan Knowles.
Referee: Joe Cobb.
