NATHAN BROWN has backed half-back Kyle Wood to maintain his good form and help lead the Giants to Super League victory over Hull KR at the Galpharm Stadium on Saturday (7.15).
The 22-year-old’s performance in Sunday’s Challenge Cup defeat at Castleford was one of the few positives the Giants could take from the tie.
It was enough to guarantee Wood another first-team shot this weekend.
And Galpharm chief Brown is confident the talented half-back, who can also slot in at hooker, is ready to play a leading role against the Robins this weekend.
“Woody’s form over the past two or three weeks has been one of the positives for us,” said Brown. “He’s been getting consistently better each week, which is really pleasing.
“Last week’s Cup tie was obviously quite a big game and he had to assume a little bit more responsibility than he probably thought he would going into the match (the early injury to centre Joe Wardle forced that).
“In the end, he played about 70 minutes, which I’m sure he never expected.
“But each week he seems to get more confident in himself, and the team is getting more confident in him.
“There’s no question it’s been a good period for Woody and I’ll sure he’ll play an important role for us again on Saturday.
“With every game he plays he keeps improving and is feeling a lot better.”
Wood’s continued first-team run is once again also out of necessity due to the number of injuries to senior players.
But weekend opponents Hull KR are also having to reshuffle their side in the wake of their Cup exit at St Helens.
Both full-back Shaun Briscoe and winger Liam Colbon are major injury doubts after their heavy 54-6 quarter-final defeat, with coach Justin Morgan saying the pair are rated at the ‘wrong side of 50-50 to play’.
