Gareth Lewis has added massive pack power to Huddersfield’s make-up for the National II North season.

He was particularly keen to strengthen the second row, along with other areas of the 15, and is keen to see all six new signings in action against Sheffield Tigers at Lockwood Park on Saturday, when admission is free.

“Gavin Rhodes has done an outstanding job over the last few years, but his commitment this season probably won’t be what it has been in the past, so we have brought in some young blood to the second row,” said the coach.

“Austin Thompson is a great signing and he was the first one we went for. He played against us and scored for Sandal last season and was not only one of the best second rows in National III, but one of the best forwards.

“Getting him was a real coup and then we landed Adam Malthouse, the Bradford & Bingley No8. They are both county players, 6ft 5in, 18 stone – big old units that hopefully will give us some balast in the pack and ball-carrying ability that we lacked a little last season.

“We have quick forwards and niggly forwards, but we needed some big, ball-carrying nasty forwards – and I think we have those this time.”

Lewis feels Huddersfield have more cutting edge in the backs as well, with World Sevens winger Dominic Lespierre, Sam Walker (Keighley), Jordan Wood (Barnsley) and Josh Bird (Sheffield Tigers) added to the mix.

“That will allow us to play two styles of game, which is what we want,” he said.

“Historically we are a very forward-orientated side. Last year we brought in the likes of Tom Hodson and Elliot Hodgson, which allowed us to move the ball wide and play with pace from deep.

“This time, hopefully the backs will complement the forwards that we’ve got and give us interchangeable gameplans, which I think we will need given everything about the level we are playing.”

Huddersfield will have £90 season-tickets on sale at the friendly – and when Cleckheaton visit Lockwood Park on Saturday, August 30 – covering the 15 home league matches.

These have been produced and sponsored by Riasca Paper and Print – the main programme sponsor for the last few years – whose financial backing has been important in getting the new venture off the ground.

There has also been a positive response to news of the newly-formed Past Players Association.

Richard Sykes, one of the driving forces behind the new ventues at the club, where Richard Gudgeon has been elected president, says the input of coach Lewis has been phenomenal.

“I am paticularly pleased for Gareth,” he explained: “I was the Colts/Academy team manager when we moved to Lockwood Park in 1997 and Gareth was a member of that team.

“I have known him since he was a youngster in the junior section and I have seen at first hand his dedication to his personal fitness and his sport.

“When he was in the Colts we had a very established first-team squad and the club wasn’t particularly looking towards the junior ranks to bolster its playing strength.

“Consequently Gareth went on to play his senior rugby at Leeds, Halifax, Manchester and Harrogate, mainly in National 1, however he never forgot his roots and he was keen to come back and finish his career where he started it.

“Recent success at senior level has been achieved with a huge contribution from our homegrown talent and it is important that, as a club, we maintain our position in the higher leagues so that our talented players of the future do not have to move away to play at a top level.

“Gareth deserves massive credit for the way in which he turned around the fortunes of the club after the relegation at the end of 2012-13 season – winning promotion straight away – and he deserves the full backing of the club on and off the field in his endeavours to consolidate the position he has taken the team back to.”