The Huddersfield Giants are set to name all three senior signings in their side for Sunday’s home Super League XX opener against Hull FC.
Jamie Ellis, Craig Huby and Jack Hughes are in Huddersfield’s 19-man squad for the John Smith’s Stadium clash.
All three impressed in the 38-6 pre-season triumph at Halifax, with head coach Paul Anderson sticking with the same 19 that was in action at The Shay.
At the same tine, opponents Hull are ready to hand first competitive starts to new Blacks and Whites half-back combination Marc Sneyd and Leon Pryce, while Australian NRL recruit Mark Minichiello is the only other new signing to make their 19-man squad.
The Italian international will join captain Gareth Ellis, Dean Hadley and Jordan Thompson as Lee Radford’s back row choices.
Radford has also left himself plenty of options for the prop forward positions, with Liam Watts, Josh Bowden, Chris Green, Mickey Paea and Feka Paleaaesina all given the nod, with England international Joe Westerman completes the pack from loose forward.
Last season’s Player of the Year Fetuli Talanoa also makes the squad, with Tom Lineham similarly holding down his place in the side on the wing.
Richard Whiting has completed his rehabilitation on an arm injury that has plagued his pre-season programme to take up his place in the side, whilst fellow Airlie Birds veteran Kirk Yeaman also makes the cut.
Setaimata Sa will hope to carry his impressive pre-season form into the start of the new campaign and makes the preliminary side, while young gun Jamie Shaul has fought off fierce competition during the off-season to retain his full back spot.
Giants: McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy, Brough, Robinson, Crabtree, Lunt, Huby, Ferres, Hughes, Bailey, Kopczak, Ta’ai, Broughton, Mullally, Ellis, Connor, Johnson.
Hull FC: Bowden, Ellis, Green, Hadley, Houghton, Lineham, Minichiello, Paea, Paleaaesina, Pryce, Sa, Shaul, Sneyd, Talanoa, Thompson, Watts, Westerman, Whiting, Yeaman.
