HE may not be a new signing. But it certainly felt that way when Shaun Lunt returned to the Huddersfield Giants after his glorious six-month loan spell at Leeds Rhinos.

When the former Workington hooker fell out of favour under former Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown, Lunt asked to go on loan in April and was immediately snapped up by Leeds boss Brian McDermott.

The move proved a major success, with the 25-year-old playing at Wembley against Warrington Wolves in August – the Rhinos lost 35-18 – before helping the Rhinos secure a 26-18 Grand Final triumph over the same opposition at Old Trafford in October.

It crowned a dream time at Headingley and, not surprisingly, prompted Lunt to admit he’d like to remain at Headingley and try and win even more silverware.

However, he was instead recalled by Huddersfield to fulfil the rest of his three-year contract.

It was a decision that some players may have resented.

Not Lunt.

He immediately shrugged off the disappointment and walked back into pre-season training at Huddersfield with his typically positive attitude. This was the Shaun Lunt of old – albeit with a Super League Grand Final winners’ ring to show for his efforts while he was away!

And on the eve of the season, that positive outlook is as bright as ever.

“I said I would have liked to have stayed at Leeds, but sometimes in life you don’t get what you want,” he said.

“But I’m also happy to be back at Huddersfield. If the Giants hadn’t given me a Super League chance in the first place, I might not have had the opportunity to have had such a great career so far.

“So this club is always going to be very, very special, and I’ll be wearing the shirt with as much pride as ever this season.

“I’ve been back at Huddersfield doing all the pre-season with the boys and I’ve really enjoyed it. I’m a lot happier with how I’ve been treated.

“At the start of last season, I felt I was playing well when I had the chance, but those chances were just so limited.

“If I hadn’t been playing well, I could understand why I wasn’t getting a look-in. But that wasn’t the case, because I was coming on as a substitute, helping turn the games our way and scoring tries.

“I just didn’t get it.

“At the end of the day, you just want to play rugby and I was hardly doing that.

“I was lucky to get picked up at Leeds and I had a great time there, but instead of dwelling on the past, I’m just looking forward to the season with the Giants.

“I feel I’m wanted again by the club, and that’s all I ever wanted.”

Lunt won England honours after breaking through into Super League in 2009 but fell down the pecking order at the Giants last season.

He lost the No9 jersey to Luke Robinson and also found himself behind Scott Moore and David Faiumu.

That’s all now changed under Brown’s successor Paul Anderson, with Robinson reverting to scrum-half, although Lunt insists he did not seek any guarantees from the new head coach.

“I got the nine shirt back which I’m really pleased about, but I’m not a player who wants guarantees about playing every week,” he said.

“I reckon if a coach says ‘if you’re fit, you’re in the team’, that’s when you can take your eye off the ball a little bit.

“I just wanted to know that, if I’m playing well and doing the business on the pitch, then I’ll get picked the week after.

“That’s the only reassurance I want and he’s given me that so I’m very happy.”

Lunt’s return to the John Smith’s Stadium has coincided with the arrival of an influx of new teammates, particularly forwards.

Anderson has gone for size with the recruitment of Stuart Fielden, Craig Kopczak, Anthony Mullally and Tongan international Ukuma Ta’ai.

Huddersfield kick off their campaign against Brown’s new club St Helens on February 2 and Lunt does not see why they should not end it at Old Trafford and give him a chance of a second Super League ring.

“There are a lot of new faces,” he said. “Obviously there are some big men who have come in and they are all good players.

“As a nine, there’s nothing better than playing behind a great pack. Hopefully they can get us going forward and I can work off the back of them.

“I reckon we’ll do really well. We won’t peak at the start like we have in the past.

“With a lot of new faces, I reckon we will build week in, week out and, come the end of the season, we’ll be firing on all cylinders.”