FOUR new Giants signings are poised to make their full debuts in tomorrow’s big Super League XV opener against Bradford Bulls at the Galpharm Stadium (8.00).
Lee Gilmour, David Fa’alogo, Scott Grix and Graeme Horne are all included in head coach Nathan Brown’s first 19-man squad of the season.
The quartet all did their chances of featuring a power of good with their performances in last Tuesday’s comfortable 28-10 pre-season triumph at fellow top-flight side Castleford Tigers.
But with all those in action at The Jungle making positive contributions, Brown admits having to leave out two more players after training later today is going to be a tough task.
“It was hard having to select a 19, and it’s going to be just as hard trimming it down to 17 for tomorrow’s game itself,” said Brown, who is still a month away from handing a second debut to returning hero Brad Drew as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.
“Everyone played well at Castleford on the back of training well throughout pre-season, and hopefully we’ll have picked the right 17 who can go out there and get the job done.”
Bulls boss McNamara has also named a number of new signings for the season opener.
Those include new big Australian NRL signings Matt Ordford, Brett Kearney, Glenn Hall and Heath L’Estrange.
Also named in the squad are Craig Kopczak and Stuart Reardon, who both left the field during last Thursday’s trial win at Hull KR with leg injures but have now recovered, along with former Giants centre Chris Nero and ex-Newome Panther and top Giants Scholarship pupil Jason Crookes.
The referee will be Steve Ganson.
Giants: B Hodgson, Cudjoe, Lolesi, Whaturia, D Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, Crabtree, Lunt, Mason, Gilmour, Fa'alogo, Raleigh, Griffin, Lawrence, Faiumu, Grix, Aspinwall, Horne.
Bulls: Reardon, Halley, L'Estrange, Hall, Scruton, Sheriffe, Sykes, Langley, Kopczak, Donaldson, Menzies, Kearney, Godwin, Nero, Lynch, Crookes, Whitehead, Worrincy, Orford.
