BRAD DREW is backing the Huddersfield Giants pack to lay a solid foundation for Super League XVIII success.

But Huddersfield’s former Player of the Year knows that will only be achieved if the Giants continue to train at such a high intensity under head coach Paul Anderson.

Drew was in town in his role as coach of the Australian Institute of Sport to watch Anderson put his players through their paces.

After watching the Super League squad in action at the Leeds Road Sports Barn, Drew’s Under 17s touring side held a training session of their own on the adjacent playing fields.

And Huddersfield’s highly-popular former hooker admits he took the session with an extra spring in his step after seeing the way Giants were shaping up.

“After the time I spent at the Giants, everyone knows how much I love the club,” said Drew, whose Australian side is in the middle of a five-game tour of England, France and Wales and returns home on Sunday. “That was one of the reasons why I wanted to see the boys train. And I’m glad I did.

“I thought my young players would benefit from watching a Super League side train, and I obviously wanted that session to be with Huddersfield.

“It was a really tough session, which I’ve been told if typical of the way Paul has been working them throughout pre-season.

“It’s clearly impossible for me to tell from just one session how good the Giants will be. At this time of the year, every squad thinks they’re world-beaters!

“But what did impress me, and gave me a great deal of hope, was the size of the forward pack.

“They look more than capable of inflicting a lot of damage on an opponent.”