Huddersfield Giants have to stay in Super League – because new head coach Rick Stone is the man who can lead them to top-flight glory.
That’s the confident prediction of World XIII winger Jermaine ‘Jerry’ McGillvary ahead of the start of a Middle 8s campaign which will determine his hometown club’s fate.
The Giants have to finish in the top three of the eight-team mini-league – which for Huddersfield gets under way at Salford next Sunday – or win the ‘million pound game’ between the teams finishing fourth and fifth to avoid relegation to the Championship.
With fixtures against Featherstone, Batley, London, Leigh, Leeds and Hull KR to follow, the men from the John Smith’s Stadium will be confident of securing Super League survival, even though they finished the end of the regular season at the bottom of the top-flight pile.
And if they do book their spot for Super League XXII, McGillvary knows the ‘Stone Age’ future looks bright.
“It’s not taken any of us too long to appreciate what a good coach Rick is,” said McGillvary, who is hoping to have recovered from a slight quad tear suffered during the recent home defeat to St Helens to take a full part in the Giants’ Middle 8s assault.
“He’s very smart and he’s very clever. In fact, he reminds me very much of Nathan Brown.
“So I know if Rick keeps us up and then takes us for a full pre-season, we’ll soon be back at the top of Super League and challenging for the major honours again. That’s pretty exciting.
“Obviously, the main priority right now is making sure we’re not relegated, but there’s no doubt we could have a bright future under Rick.
“He’s a very effort-based coach, drilling into us that winning games is all about hard work, whether that’s in attack or defence, and his man-management skills are spot-on.
“If he thinks you’re doing something wrong – with your tackling technique, for instance – he’ll tell you and then explain exactly what you need to do to put it right.
“Nothing seems too much trouble for him – I really like his style.”
But McGillvary accepts the influence of former Newcastle Knights and Fiji head coach Stone will take a little time to kick-in.
“Rick’s effectively come in ‘blind’ and has a fair lot to learn,” added the 27-year-old England ace.
“He’s having to learn about us as players and individuals, and learn about the English game, and now he’s seen for himself some of the rubbish we’ve been tossing up this year.
“He’s had to take all this in, decide what his priorities need to be and then take steps to put things right and put his own stamp on the side. That’s a process that can’t be done overnight.
“But in the very short time he’s been here he’s already making his presence felt and trying to make us play smarter and be a lot more competitive.
“Leading up to the Saints game and last weekend’s narrow loss at Warrington, Rick was only able to take us for four field training sessions, and everyone could see the improvement between those two games.
“So we’re all looking forward to the Salford game and how much better we’re capable of getting.”
Young Giants Super League squad trio Sam Wood, Liam Johnson and Darnell McIntosh will lead Huddersfield Under 19s’ home Academy challenge against London Broncos at Lockwood Park this afternoon.
New head coach Rick Stone will be taking a close look at the youngsters at his disposal, with hopes high they can put on a good show against the capital club.
The Giants Under 19 squad is: Darnell McIntosh, Tyllar Mellor, Jack Richardson, Oliver Jamieson, Alex Young, Will Ingleby, Izaac Farrell, Ben Harley, Ethan Salm, Jacob Jones, Sam Hewitt, Harry Woollard, Liam Johnson, Sam Wood, Brad Burgess, Fletcher Davies, Ethan Priest, Tom Higgins, Connor Redgwick, Connor Hampson, Jamie Greenwood.
