HUDDERSFIELD Giants’ focus on junior development is reaping a big reward – and bodes well for a bright Super League future to continue.

That’s the view of proud Head of Youth Performance Pete Riding after seeing the Under 19s destroy Academy leaders Leeds Rhinos 56-16 at Laund Hill.

A hat trick from young Super League squad man Jake Connor, two tries each for Josh Hunt and Canaan Smithies and further scores from George King, Jack Blagborough and Elliott Morris – plus eight goals from Jack Miller – helped Huddersfield inflict just a second League defeat of the season on the Rhinos.

It’s a result that may have taken some by surprise.

But not the hard-working Riding, who believes the Rhinos’ result is further proof the Giants are getting it right and are now a major player at all levels of the game – from Super League, to Academy and down to Scholarship.

“I couldn’t be prouder with the way things have fallen into place,” said Riding.

“When I arrived at the club in 2007 we had just 14 players in our junior system, and none of them were internationals, even though those 14 included Leroy Cudjoe, Michael Lawrence and Jermaine McGillvary!

“But now we have 28 players on our Academy books and 43 on our Scholarship programme at Under 15s and 16s level, and these include internationals across the board.

“On top of that, we’re beating the top sides in the competition on a regular basis, with the win over Leeds our latest eye-catching result.

“It’s taken a lot of incredibly hard work and patience from a lot of people at the Giants to reach the stage where comparisons are being made between out junior development programme and the ones at the likes of Leeds, Wigan and St Helens.

“We’re still not being talked in the same way as these leading clubs, but with continued hard work we’ve now closed that gap significantly. We’re now a club that’s being respected both at senior and junior level.”

The fact Leeds had so many players to their Super League meant several Under 19s players missed the Academy defeat against the Giants.

But Riding doesn’t believe that was a major factor.

“Leeds were lacking three of their first-choice 19s players because of Super League calls, but we had three of our top players missing too,” he added.

“Pete Aspinall (ankle) and Elliott Gorman (shoulder) have gone for the season through injury, while Josh Johnson has been playing dual registration at Batley last week and was rested.

“So there was very little to separate the respective squads in that respect.

“But what made this result even more pleasing was that 12 of the 17 who played still have two years left at Academy level. That’s another really exciting prospect.

“Having said that, there’s no complacency whatsoever with the way things are now going at the club. We are happy, but we know we can still do even better.

“Everyone is continuing to keep their feet on the ground, and the key focus at this very moment is making sure we prepare as well as we can for what will be a tough home game against Featherstone on Saturday.

“We just want to keep building and building and get better and better.”