HI, it’s Luke here.
Once again, you join me at a time when there are broad smiles aplenty through the Giants Super League squad – apart from one solitary individual that is.
Yes, I’m afraid to say Jamie Cording is yet again the odd man out, and you’ve got to feel sorry for the young fella.
This really should have been one of the happiest times in his career, having begun to establish himself as a recognised Super League player. His performances this season have been one of the highlights for us.
But, unfortunately, it has an amazing habit of putting his foot in it and emerging as a subject for ridicule, even though he is one of the brightest players around.
And I think it’s apt I’ve used the word ‘foot’, because it fits in with his latest faux pas.
Even though we had a good weekend with that win at Castleford, Cordo still returned to training a little low. He was in the doghouse at home, because his missus is a Cas fan and playing a part in their defeat didn’t help his cause!
So to cheer himself up he decided to treat himself to a quality pair of bright blue Nike trainers.
I have to say he did find himself a real bargain and they were pretty decent.
He was that chuffed with them he was telling everyone on social media sites all about them and what a bargain they were. He even took a picture to show them off!
Proud Jamie promised to wear them for training on Wednesday and was looking forward to receiving a positive reaction when he arrived at the club.
Instead, everyone took one look and fell about.
Rather than looking a cool dude, he just looked like Coco the Clown.
It was obvious they were far too big for him, and it looked like he was wearing skis rather than trainers.
According to the trainers, they were a size 10.
But Larne Patrick gave them a try and found they comfortably fitted his size 13 feet!
Cordo had been conned, and he was once again the butt of all our jokes.
As a result, playing against Hull KR and focusing on other things can’t come soon enough for him.
BRAD DWYER’S arrival at the Giants has been like a breath of fresh air.
He’s obviously joined us on a month’s loan from Warrington, and in the very short time he’s been here it’s clear he’s an exceptionally talented young hooker.
Brad has been thrown in at the deep end a bit, because his role means he’ll have to be an organiser, just like the half-backs. He’s had to learn a lot of plays very quickly.
In that sense it’s far more difficult than when a prop arrives. They basically have one move to learn – get the ball and run straight at the opposition!
But Brad’s taken a lot in, and I know he’s busting a gut to get cracking. And Shaun Lunt and myself will hopefully reap the rewards of his arrival.
At the moment, Lunty is playing more minutes than was originally planned, and when he comes off I’m moving from half-back to cover hooker in order to give him a rest.
I do enjoy the switch, but it does, unfortunately, mean I’m not getting much of a rest!
With Brad now around, we’ve got a ready-made replacement to come on for Lunty in the middle of the field, so he can have a slightly longer breather and I can remain in the halves.
In the long term, that means Lunty and myself should have more of a chance to freshen ourselves up ready for the start of the second half of the season.
Here’s hoping!
