Top prop Craig Kopczak is delighted the Giants have recruited London’s Antonio Kaufusi – because it will make his side even stronger in 2014!

The signing of fellow front-row forward Kaufusi was met with joy by Kopczak, who once again will be leading Huddersfield’s pack charge.

Following Stuart Fielden’s retirement last season after a spell out with injury, Kopczak and Eorl Crabtree were left with huge responsibility as the Giants’ main experienced props.

The 6ft 2in, 17st Kaufusi will add notable size and strength to the Giants pack, as well as top-level experience, following representative honours for both Queensland and Australia during his spell in the NRL, where he played for Melbourne Storm, North Queensland Cowboys and Newcastle Knights.

While Kopczak and Crabtree were helped out by Larne Patrick and Anthony Mullally amongst others last season, the Welshman couldn’t hide his delight at the acquisition of a fellow big man to help bolster the Giants pack.

He believes that an extra man in the front-row will take a bit of weight off Crabtree and himself, and allow them to be more effective as the season reaches the business end.

“Antonio Kaufusi is going to be massive for us,” said Kopczak, who captained Wales at the World Cup last year. “He’s such a talented player and such a big name in rugby league, and it’s great that he’s joined the Giants.

“He’s going to help me and Eorl in the front row and will be a huge help for both of us.”

Kopczak’s Wales teammate Patrick continued to make an impact as a substitute last season for the Giants, and proved a hit for the Dragons at RLWC2013. Kopczak was impressed with the 25-year-old’s form last season, and wants to see him replicate it again.

“It’s true Eorl and I had to shoulder a lot of responsibility last year, but we also had some good young players like Larne helping us out,” he said.

“He was outstanding last season, and he carried that into the World Cup with Wales. If he takes that form into the new Super League season who knows what could happen, because we’re fighting for places all over the pitch.”

After joining the Giants from Bradford for the 2013 Super League season, Kopczak could not have asked for a better first year at his new club, as he played a major role in helping Huddersfield clinch the Super League Leaders’ Shield – the first time the club had finished top of the league in 81 years.

The Giants No10 played 27 times last season, the majority of which came as a starting prop.

Despite the success of his debut season with the club, he admits that the side are keen to go one better this time around.

“It’s been magical since I joined Huddersfield,” he said. “Just being around the place, it’s such a professional and great club to be at.

“I was really pleased with my performances with the Giants last year and I wanted to try take some of that form into the World Cup and provide the Wales team with a bit of leadership, which I hope I did.

“Last season the fans turned up to watch us, and I hope we can get even bigger crowds this season.

“Our goal is to get to the Grand Final. But, at the same time that’s everyone else’s target too, so it’s going to be a really tough campaign. We feel like we’ve got a little bit of unfinished business to take care of, so we’re desperate to go one better and win the main prize.”

Kopczak seemed to fit perfectly into Paul Anderson’s plans last season, as the Giants boss created a team strong down the middle, with creativity and flair on the edges.

With the arrival of Kaufusi and his former London teammate Chris Bailey, Kopczak feels the Giants are set to impose themselves on teams even more in 2014, and he is pleased he’s their teammate, and not facing them this year.

“I’m definitely proud to be part of this pack. We’ve got such a big team and hopefully teams will come here and fear us, and we’ll be able to get some good results along the way.

“The amount of training we’ve been doing makes us all raring to go and get back into it, starting at Wigan in the first game.”