HUDDERSFIELD Giants booked in to pre-season training yesterday with a new main man overseeing the fitness of the players.
Australian Geoff Evans has taken over as the club's Head of Athletic Performance, with the aim of getting the squad in the best possible shape for Super League X.
And the 40-year-old, who has been handed a two-year contract, arrives at the Galpharm with a massive reputation.
Evans earned widespread praise for his fitness work with Wakefield Trinity last season when the Wildcats reached the Super League play-offs for the first time.
He also worked with Leeds Rhinos in 2001 before spending two seasons with St Helens, working closely alongside Giants head coach Jon Sharp when he was the No2 at Knowsley Road. Sharp was keen to team up with Evans once again and is known to have been pursuing the vastly-experienced conditioner for months.
But while the new man has been linked with a potential move to the Galpharm for some time, it has taken until now for Evans to take up an official position.
And Sharp was delighted to see him at pre-season training yesterday.
"Geoff is a significant signing for us," said Sharp.
"I have been a big admirer of Geoff from the moment I first started working with him at St Helens.
"He is a top-quality addition to a quality Giants staff and I know it won't take long before he is making a massive impact at the club.
"He's got a superb sports science background, and is an educated man who knows the theory behind the practice.
"We have some smart players at this club and there's no doubt that they will quickly recognise and acknowledge Geoff's role.
"He is a man at the very top of his profession and I am delighted he is now working for the Giants."
Evans spent yesterday testing the fitness of the players in Sharp's senior squad and was pleased with the initial results.
"My first impressions of the players' condition is very favourable," he said.
* Evans checks in - Page 42.
