The future of Huddersfield Giants looks bright, particularly if the weekend events at Laund Hill are anything to go by.
In a completely one-sided Laund Hill double-header, the Giants Under 16s thrashed Cumbria 64-0, while the Under 19s did even better to demolish the Midlands 80-0.
Admittedly, the opposition wasn’t the greatest in the world, with far sterner tests guaranteed over the next few months.
But it was still a clear indication of the growing strength of the Giants at junior level – a fact not lost on Academy chief and first-team assistant coach Chris Thorman after watching his Under 19s race in for 14 tries.
“It may have been a one-sided game, but I learned a lot from it,” said Thorman, whose side included young Super League squad men Kruise Leeming, Tyler Dickinson and Liam Johnson.
“This game was about giving opportunities to first-year Under 19s, lads of 17. Brad Burgess, Jack Etchells and Connor Redgwick made their debuts, while Billy Hayes, Matty English and Izaac Farrell were making just their second appearances at this level.
“They didn’t let anyone down at all, which is a big deal for me, the youth department and the club, because they got their chance to play and played well.
“None of them are obviously the finished article, but they have shown they do possess great potential.”
Scrum-half Farrell, in particular, thoroughly enjoyed himself against the outclassed opposition, crossing for two tries, setting up a number of others and kicking 12 conversions, several from the touchline.
But he was outdone in the tryscoring stakes by prop Elliot Morris who grabbed a hat trick, with centre Will Gledhill, winger Etchells and hooker Leeming, who also kicked two 40-20s to back up two more in the opening-day win at London Broncos the week before.
The tryscoring was completed with one apiece for stand-off Jordan Brown and back-rowers Will Carlos and Johnson.
Earlier in the day, captain Jon-Luke Kirby’s Under 16s celebrated their big win over the Cumbrians.
Jacob Wardle was top points-scorer with a hat trick and five goals, while Lewis Fletcher also scored three, Innes Senior and Sam Hewitt twice and Jack Richardson, Jamie Greenwood, Billy Yarrow and Ronan Costello.
