GIANTS assistant Paul Anderson has admitted his bitter disappointment that Huddersfield will not have a player in England’s final World Cup squad to play in Australia.
But he believes Darrell Griffin and David Hodgson will respond positively to their non-inclusion when they line up for their country in the one-off clash against Wales at Doncaster tomorrow (7.35).
The Giants duo will be part of a squad with a mix of players who have missed out on final selection and several others who will be making the World Cup trip early next week.
Unfortunately, their Giants teammate Martin Aspinwall has failed to make tomorrow’s line-up, despite being in England’s initial World Cup train-on squad – something that’s also upset Anderson. But the former Great Britain prop still believes the Huddersfield trio will have benefited from their time as part of the England set-up.
“I was absolutely delighted when the boys got their calls, and I know they’ll have enjoyed the experience of being part of the England set-up,” said Anderson.
“But I was equally as disappointed to find they have now missed out on final selection.
“I’m sure all three of our players must have been in with shout, and I know how tough it must have been for the selectors. But I’m surprised we haven’t got at least one player going to Australia. Obviously, Darrell had some strong props in front of him, but I was sure Aspy and Hodgy would be frontrunners.
“They both finished the season really strongly and must have been very close.
“I’m gutted for both of them, but I’m really gutted for Martin, who won’t even get the chance to play tomorrow, despite finishing the season so strongly.
“But I know how much his two teammates will want to put on a big show tomorrow night and show the selectors they were wrong not to take them to Australia.
“I know they’ll want to prove a point.”
