Fully-fit Larne Patrick is hoping his injury woes are firmly behind him and he can play a big part in a massive Giants Super League finish.
The 25-year-old forward is now back firing on all cylinders after an injury-wrecked start to the season.
In the opening-round win at Wigan, the Wales World Cup star suffered a knee injury which kept him sidelined for the next seven games,
He then picked up a rib injury on his return at Salford which then dramatically restricted his involvement in the following game against Wakefield.
But since then, Patrick hasn’t looked back.
He’s featured in the last eight games, coming off the bench to make a massive impact, and will be looking to produce another strong showing at home to London Broncos tomorrow as the Giants look to build on an impressive seven wins from their last eight top-flight fixtures.
“I’m really happy with the way my form’s been going,” said Patrick, whose confidence was further boosted with a typically explosive display in last Friday’s thrilling 24-22 triumph at Leeds Rhinos.
“The year obviously couldn’t have started any worse for me than with the injury at Wigan in the first game, and to then pick up a rib injury as soon as I returned made everything feel even worse.
“But, looking back on it now, it could end up doing me more good than harm.
“The enforced time on the sidelines gave me a lot more opportunity to work on my general fitness, and I feel it’s paid off.
“I feel a lot fitter and fresher than I ever have at this stage of the season, which I’d like to think is being reflected in the way I’m playing.
“And I’m also enjoying coming off the bench and playing at prop.
“I suppose there was a time when players saw it as a bit of a snub if they were named on the bench, but I don’t think that’s the case any more. In the modern game, substitutes can play a big part in determining the outcome of a game, which I thought was the case for us in the wins over Wigan and Leeds in our last two games.
“Hopefully, it’ll be the case again this weekend against London.”
Many are predicting a big win for sixth-placed Huddersfield against a London side who have lost their opening 16 top-flight fixtures in 2014.
But Patrick thinks getting the two League points is more important than trying to achieve a big score.
“If you go into a game looking to score at every opportunity you could end up causing yourself big problems,” he added,
“What we’ll be looking to do this weekend is starting as strongly as we can and taking things from there.
“Just because London haven’t won a game yet doesn’t mean we’ll treat them with any less respect.
“We know there’s still a lot of improvement in us, and we need to start finding it.
“If we can keep on improving and start to discover our very best form, then who knows what we can achieve?
“I’d just like to think I can play my part in us doing that. At the moment I’m confident I can.”
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