GIANTS players today checked in for the start of pre-season training as the countdown began to the big kick-off of Super League XIII.

Coach Jon Sharp’s squad got down to business a week later than usual because of their involvement in the play-offs (for the first time) at the end of the last campaign.

Apart from those players who have been on international duty and several members of the Giants’ Australian contingent, everyone reported for duty.

These included new scrum-half signing Luke Robinson, who has arrived from Salford City Reds, although the 23-year-old has spent the past month training in the gym with several of his new teammates.

The players are working towards the start of the new Super League season, which officially kicks-off on the weekend of February 10.

And Giants captain Chris Thorman admits the squad can’t wait to get cracking.

“This is always an exciting time of the year and, after the season we’ve just had, I think we’re more excited than ever to get back to it,” said the skipper.

“We’re all ready to work hard and make sure 2008 is even better!”