KIERON PURTILL has put the disappointment of his St Helens’ exit firmly behind him and is determined to help the Huddersfield Giants get back on the right Super League track.
The former Saints assistant was axed along with head coach Royce Simmons in March to bring the curtain down on Purtill’s three-and-half-year stay at the club.
Purtill has admitted his departure was tough to take, but having now been reunited with Giants head coach Paul Anderson, after the pair worked together at Huddersfield as the assistants to former chief Jon Sharp in 2007 and 2008, Purtill is looking forward to resurrecting his Super League coaching career.
“The circumstances of the way it finished for me at St Helens were disappointing. No-one ever likes to lose their job,” said Purtill, who remains the coach of the England Knights.
“But I’ve been able to put all that behind me now, thanks largely to Paul and the Giants.
“I arrived here last month at a pretty tough time, with the team struggling for form and with Nathan Brown having just left his position as head coach. On top of that, there were a lot of players carrying injuries and others whose futures are still up in the air.
“Under the circumstances, I think Paul is doing a fantastic job.
“I think he’s been able to enjoy it, and I know I certainly am. It’s great to be back coaching at Super League level again.”
