David Hodgson determined to maintain form for Giants

DAVID HODGSON is determined to take his tryscoring Super League form into the Giants’ Challenge Cup campaign.

The 28-year-old England winger notched up the fifth hat trick of his career in last Friday’s 24-0 top-flight triumph over Castleford Tigers.

It was also his second three-try haul of the 2010 campaign, with his first of the year coming against tomorrow’s Challenge Cup visitors to the Galpharm Stadium, Hull KR.

Hodgson’s hat trick against the Robins helped the Giants secure a highly-impressive 30-0 victory at Craven Park on February 21.

Tomorrow’s test is expected to be much tougher, with in-form trio Shaun Briscoe, Joel Clinton and Ben Galea absent that day but ready to lead the Rovers’ charge this weekend.

But Hodgson admits that with the form he is in and with the players he has around him, he won’t be lacking in confidence as Huddersfield embark on a Challenge Cup campaign they hope will end in a return to Wembley.

“The performance against Castleford last Friday shows there’s still a lot of room for improvement and we know we’re going to have to be a lot better to beat Hull KR,” said Hodgson.

“But the fact we ‘nilled’ Castleford, and have also ‘nilled’ Hull KR shows our defence is good. That’s going to be a key for us again tomorrow.

“At the same time, I also know we’ve got more than enough quality on attack to get us through this weekend and go on and have another successful season.

“And right now I’m benefiting as much as anyone from that quality we have in the side.

“I may be scoring my fair share of tries at the moment, which is obviously what I’m paid to do, but I wouldn’t be able to do that if it wasn’t for the players who I just inside me.

“It’s always going to be easier scoring when you’ve got players of the quality of Paul Whatuira, Lee Gilmour and Kevin Brown working down your side.

“You know they’re going to give you the service.

“They’ve been doing it throughout the season in Super League, so hopefully they’ll be able to do it again for us in the Challenge Cup this year, obviously starting against Hull KR tomorrow.”