Paul Anderson knows Jack Hughes will be desperate for a big finish to his time at the Giants.
Warrington Wolves have confirmed the 23-year-old back-row forward will be joining them for the 2016 Super League season.
Hughes won’t be moving to the Halliwell Jones Stadium until the end of the Giants’ Super 8s campaign, which fourth-placed Huddersfield hope will culminate in a first Super League Grand Final appearance at Old Trafford on Saturday, October 10.
That would be the perfect end to the former England Knights forward’s season-long loan from Wigan Warriors, with speculation mounting that Larne Patrick could be returning to the Giants after spending his season on loan at the DW Stadium as part of the Hughes’ deal.
And Giants head coach Anderson is confident Hughes can play a leading role in leading his club to Super 8s glory, starting with another rock-solid performance at home to Catalans Dragons tomorrow night.
“To be honest, I’m disappointed he’s leaving,” said Anderson.
“But I know the travelling (from his Wigan home) was getting a bit too much for him at the end, and I also know he’s joining a good club in Warrington.
“It’s just a shame they are going to reap the rewards of the excellent season he’s had with us!
“Jack knows what I think of him as a player and he’s played every week for us because of his consistent high level of performance. We gave him the chance to play week in, week out for us, which is something he wasn’t able to do at Wigan, and everyone here has benefited from that.
“We tried to bring in Jack to play on our right edge when Jason Chan left the other year, but we didn’t get any joy at the time. Thankfully, we did finally get him, and we’re delighted we did.
“Jack’s really enjoyed the chance we’ve given him, and I know how determined he is to finish his time at the Giants on as positive a note as possible.
“He’s given us 100% so far, and I know he’ll continue to give us 100% until his very last minute with us.”
Hughes seems certain to continue in the back-row role against the Dragons, and could be joined in the pack by Joe Wardle.
Although Wardle was back at centre for the 30-22 defeat at Wigan last Thursday, the fact Chris Bailey has missed out this week and utility backs Jodie Broughton and Jake Connor have been recalled, suggests the strike three-quarter could have a spell back in the forwards once again.”
Giants: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy, Brough, Robinson, Crabtree, Huby, Hughes, Lawrence, Kopczak, Ta’ai, Broughton, Ellis, Connor, Leeming, Roberts, Smith.
Dragons: Escare, Tonga, Carney, Dureau, Elima, Henderson, Taia, Anderson, Bosc, Lima, Pelissier, Whitehead, Garcia, Bousquet, Maria, Baitieri, Gigot, Inu, Sigismeau.
Referee: Robert Hicks.
