Top prop Craig Kopczak signed for the Huddersfield Giants at the end of last season because he felt the move gave him the best chance to win silverware.
But even he didn’t expect success to have come quite so quickly.
In his first year, the former Bradford Bulls front-row forward has helped the Giants lift the Super League Leaders’ Shield.
And Huddersfield are now preparing to face Warrington, with the hope of reaching an Old Trafford Super League Grand Final for the very first time.
Kopczak knows the Giants will have to be even better than they were in destroying Hull FC 76-18 at the John Smith’s Stadium on Thursday if they are to get the better of the Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium this Thursday.
But the 26-year-old Wales World Cup captain knows that with confidence in the Huddersfield camp so high, reaching the Theatre of Dreams on Saturday, October 5 is well within their grasp.
“I’m really enjoying playing at the moment, and I’d like to think that’s being reflected in the performances I’ve been putting in,” said Kopczak.
“To be honest, I think everyone’s been playing well apart from that loss to Wigan in the wet the other day, which we’re all just viewing as a bit of a blip.
“I feel as if I’m playing off the back of the work being put in by everybody, and I’m absolutely loving it.
“To win the League Leaders’ Shield in my first season here was amazing and now we’ve got a semi-final to look forward to this week. It feels absolutely brilliant.
“I made it clear when I signed for the club that the main reason was to win trophies. I could see over the past few years that Huddersfield were getting closer and closer.
“But I still didn’t think it would be going quite this well in my first season.
“It really is like a dream come true, and hopefully that dream will carry on to Old Trafford.
“I’ve never been 80 minutes away from a Grand Final before, and I feel really privileged to be in this position.
“I can’t see any reason at all why we can’t go all the way, even though we know how tough it’s going to be at Warrington.”
And if that proves the case, Kopczak knows that success will be down to the close bond that exists among everyone at the club.
“It’s been fantastic being part of this squad. This is such a great group to be around,” he added. “The team spirit within the squad is unbelievable, the coaching staff have been great from day one, and I can’t speak more highly of the medical staff and the work they do to keep us such good shape.
“There’s no doubt a key to our success this year is the way everyone is prepared to work for each other. That’s what will hold the key for us this week and, hopefully, next week at Old Trafford, too!”
