GIANTS head coach Jon Sharp has today pledged to take personal responsibility for the development of all the young players on the books at Huddersfield.

Sharp watched many of the Super League club's top Academy players in action during Sunday's 32-22 defeat at Halifax.

Although he was heartened by some of what he saw, he believes a great deal of work is still required to get the youngsters up to scratch.

And he has made it clear he wants to play as big a role as possible in making that happen.

"One of the reasons why we appointed Lee St Hilaire as a full-time Academy coach was to spend more time concentrating on the development of our young players," said Sharp.

"It's the first time the club has gone down that track, and I believe it will pay off.

"Lee is already doing a fantastic job and the youngsters are making giant strides under his control.

"But because Lee also has his commitments with the first team, there's only so much he can do with our Academy lads.

"It's up to the rest of the coaching team to do what we can to help Lee and follow what he wants us to do.

"And I include myself and my other coaching assistant Billy McGinty in that.

"I've seen on far too many occasions at other clubs a `them and us' mentality between the first team and the squads below.

"I don't want to see that happen at Huddersfield.

"The players at Academy level hold the key to the future success of the Giants. They are vitally important.

"That's why I intend to spend as much time as I can helping on that front."

Meanwhile, the remaining tickets for the Giant Pantomime, Dick Whittington, at the Lawrence Batley Theatre tonight (7.30), will be on sale at the theatre ticket office.