CONFIDENT Huddersfield Giants coach Paul Anderson says his forwards are capable of covering the substantial loss of Eorl Crabtree.
The in-form prop will miss his first Huddersfield game of the season at Super League strugglers Castleford tomorrow (3.00) after picking up a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle at Salford a week ago.
It is the first time the 30-year-old has been suspended in his glittering 13-year career, and Giants chief Anderson knows the inspirational front row will be missed.
“We’d obviously rather have Eorl out there, but we fully understand why he isn’t,” said Anderson.
“It did look a dangerous tackle, and if an opponent had done something similar to one of our players we’d have expected him to have been punished.
“But there’s no point dwelling on it, even though we’ll be without a player who has been one of our top two or three players throughout the season so far.
“Instead of being a negative, this is a great opportunity for the rest of our front rowers to prove we can be a very effective force without Eorl.
“That’s the challenge they face, and it’s a challenge I expect them to meet. The obvious replacement for Eorl is Stu Fielden, who was rested against Widnes and isn’t exactly the most inexperienced player in the world!
“We know we’ve got to prepare ourselves for another physical battle, but I have every faith in the players who’ll be out there.
“If we do things right and show the right attitude, like we did against Widnes, then we’ll be okay.”
