EORL CRABTREE feels the Huddersfield Giants’ shock 38-34 Magic Weekend Super League defeat against Salford could prove a blessing in disguise.
And the popular England prop is determined to mark his 300th Huddersfield appearance at Widnes on Sunday (3.00) by inspiring the Giants to a triumph that proves his club is heading back in the right direction.
Stuttering Huddersfield have slipped to fourth in the top-flight table after suffering three Super League XVII defeats on the trot to Catalan Dragons, Wigan and Salford.
But Crabtree is confident the Giants are ready to end their dip in form and learn from their recent mistakes – by powering to an impressive success against the Super League strugglers.
“All clubs suffer dips, it’s part and parcel of our spot,” said Crabtree, who made his Giants debut as a substitute in a 43-12 defeat at London Broncos on April 13, 2001.
“The key is how you get out of it, and how quickly that takes. I’m confident it won’t take us that long.
“We all know our performance against Salford on Sunday was simply unacceptable, and we got exactly what we deserved, which I think could be no bad thing in the long-term.
“If we’d have just scraped a win that day it could have papered over a few cracks, and that could have gone back to bite us in the future.
“Because of what happened against Salford, we haven’t been able to hide from the truth. We know exactly where we’re going wrong and what’s required to put it right, and it’s better to know that now rather than later in the year when it may be too late.
“All being well, we’ll start to see those improvements at Widnes. Judging from what’s been going on this week, I’m confident that’ll happen.”
