HI, it’s Andy here.

So that’s it for another season.

And it’s been another season of improvement.

For the first time in our Super League history we’ve been able to savour play-off success, first with the home win over Crusaders and then the superb victory at Warrington Wolves.

Unfortunately, we fell just a fraction short at St Helens last Friday and just failed to make it to the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.

But that Saints’ defeat – and our disappointing Challenge Cup campaign for that matter – shouldn’t take the gloss off what has been a good year for Huddersfield Giants. There have been many more positives than negatives.

Having said that, some of the gloss was taken off my season personally by not figuring in our play-off challenge. It was a disappointing end to what has been another injury-hit season for me.

But there’s simply no point sulking about it. When you’ve got a quality squad of around 30 players and only 17 can play in each game, it’s obvious there are going to be some very disappointed people, and you just hope it’s not going to be you.

And Browny knows how disappointed I was to miss out – I think questions would have been asked if I wasn’t, to be honest! – and I know he’ll be watching for my response when pre-season training gets under way.

I’m confident, however, he’ll be pleased.

There’s no doubt missing out on selection over the past couple of weeks has made me more determined than ever to have a big year next year.

As I said earlier in the piece, we’ve made further progress again this year, and I’d like to think that trend will continue in 2011.

So far, we’ve only made one signing for next season in Luke O’Donnell, but I’m sure he’ll soon be joined by other top-quality recruits to replace those who have left.

And I’m excited by the fact that when I meet up with them for pre-season I’ll be a daddy.

My wife, Emily, is due to have our first child later this month and we really can’t wait.

Let’s hope that the imminent arrival signals a fantastic 12 months, both personally and professionally!

WELL the deed has been done!

I successfully completed the nudey run last weekend, along with my teammates Keith Mason and Danny Kirmond, and what a relief it was.

That run is, of course, the now traditional punishment for not scoring a try during the Super League season, with poor old Danny forced into doing it after being told tries in play-off games don’t count.

He certainly wasn’t too happy about that, and was probably as enthusiastic as me about having to sprint 50m and back up Wakefield Road.

But it was a totally different matter for Keith. He seemed happy casually strolling up the street without a care in the world.

From the way he was completing this particular task anyone would have thought it was a reward rather than a punishment, then again that’s Keith for you!