Angry Jermaine McGillvary has denied rumours the reason for the Giants’ poor start to the Super League XXI season is down to a divided squad.

Huddersfield remain rooted to the foot of the Super League XXI table after suffering their seventh defeat from eight 2016 top-flight starts with the 26-24 Easter Monday home defeat to Salford Red Devils.

But England winger McGillvary believes it’s a lack of confidence throughout an injury-hit squad that lies at the heart of such a demoralising start to the campaign, and nothing else.

“We (the players) have heard all these rumours about us being a divided camp, but it’s absolute rubbish,” said Super League Dream Team winger McGillvary.

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“I can honestly say we’re still a close-knit group. In fact, I’d have to say these tough times have brought us even closer together.

“It does seem that whenever we lose games or are struggling, these stupid rumours almost inevitably follow on. It’s really annoying.

“The problem is nothing to do with not sticking together as a group, it’s down to a lack of confidence, That’s where the problem lies.

“When you find it difficult to win, it can get tough, really tough, because you do find you lose the confidence to win games.

“When you get a lead you struggle to hold on to leads, which is exactly what’s happening with us.

“If we can just start a game with a bit more confidence and self-belief, we know we’ll be okay.”

And McGillvary has added that playing ‘the blame game’ is also off the Giants agenda.

“If someone has someone to blame, they should blame themselves, that’s our philosophy,” added last season’s top Super League tryscorer.

“At the moment, everyone in the side is making silly errors and stupid mistakes, so we share the collective responsibility to put it right.

“I know I can’t ‘bag’ anyone, because there are things in my game I need to fix up before I can think about what anyone else is doing.

“It’s a case of everyone in the squad having to pull their own socks up and started to play a bit more smart.

“That’s got to be the key for us.”