BILLY McGINTY has today joined Huddersfield Giants as an assistant coach to Jon Sharp.
The 38-year-old former Wigan hooker leaves his position as head coach at National League II side Workington Town to move to the McAlpine on a two-year deal.
He starts his new role with immediate effect and will initially combine his duties with those of being Scotland RL head coach for this autumn's European Nations championships.
McGinty has also worked as an assistant coach at Wigan, where he earned League Championship and Challenge Cup winners' medals as a player, and will work alongside Sharp and fellow assistant coach Lee St Hilaire on a full-time basis.
Sharp had hoped to have installed his full coaching team before now, but admitted that he wasn't prepared to be rushed into making such a major decision as appointing a second assistant.
"This was a very important appointment and I was prepared to wait as long as it took to get the right man," said Sharp.
"And in Billy McGinty there's no question I've got the right man.
"We had drawn up a shortlist of quality applications and Billy stood out head and shoulders above the rest.
"I think that with Billy, Lee and myself I've got the ideal mix in a coaching team and I'm excited by the prospect of us all working together.
"We all have particular qualities which we'll be able to bring to the coaching team, and I know from personal experience that Billy is a quality operator.
"I obviously played against him on a number occasions and he's always been a combative performer who plays the game on the edge.
"He's always had a burning desire to win, and I know he'll instill that into the players here.
"But what he also brings to us is experience of working in a full-time coaching environment at Wigan.
"He was the assistant coach at Wigan when I held the same role at Wakefield Trinity, and whenever I met him I was always impressed with the way he went about his business.
"That also shone through when I talked to him about the possibility of coming here.
"It's clear there is mutual respect between us."
McGinty was today informing the players at Workington of his decision to move to the McAlpine and hopes to take up his new position in the next few days.
Meanwhile, Giants star Brandon Costin was last night named as a runner-up to Bradford Bulls' Jamie Peacock in the Tetley's Super League Man of Steel awards.
Costin and Shane Millard finished just behind Peacock in a ballot of Super League players, the first time a Huddersfield player has been recognised in such a way.
"This is a proud moment for the Giants and a proud moment for Brandon, in particular," said Sharp.
"It's recognition that is thoroughly deserved, and I for one wasn't surprised that he was shortlisted for the award."
