How much is everyone looking forward to Magic Weekend?

It should be a good occasion.

But it’s the chance to pick up two Super League points and build on the improvements we’ve been seeing over the past month that’s the most important thing for us this weekend.

Although we didn’t win in Catalans last

Saturday, I felt we took some more huge steps in the right direction, and it’s vital we continue to build on that against Saints in Newcastle.

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Given our outstanding efforts in the South of France I definitely felt we deserved something out of the contest.

What was clearly a massive positive was the way we were able to compete real, real hard against a team with a lot of fluency and with such attacking quality in the likes of Todd Carney.

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To say we conceded the possession and field position we did – and that was because of a number of actors, both internal and external, if I’m being honest – and were still able to restrict such a dangerous team as Catalans to the three tries on their own ground is a pretty good effort defensively.

If we can build on that solid defence and put a few things right on attack, then we’ll give ourselves an excellent chance on Sunday.

Huddersfield Giants' Jamie Ellis passes the ball to Ryan Hinchcliffe First Utility Super League XXI Catalans v Leeds 14/05/16 (Pic by John Rushworth)

I thought we lacked a bit of cohesion on attack and played a bit too much one-out with the ball last Saturday.

That’s something that clearly needs to be fixed up and, because that’s my department, I’ll obviously be doping everything I possibly can to make that happen.

Again, the younger boys in the squad stood up (Josh Johnson, Nathan Mason and Oli Roberts) and did a magnificent job against such a strong forward pack. How proud of them were you?

I was really pleased.

But I don’t think it’s fair to call them young kids any more, to be honest.

They are young professionals who are maturing all the time and are now making a positive contribution at the highest level.

To play against the likes of Louis Anderson, Willie Mason, Justin Horo and Glen Stewart – who really is a great player – and do as well as they did is only going to make them even better players in the future.

Having said that, they were helped considerably in their efforts on the day by the likes of Leroy, Jerry, Murph and Broughy who all made very valuable contributions for us.

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What did disappoint me on the day, though, was the fact I couldn’t get another very young player onto the field at Catalans in Tyler Dickinson. That would have been good.

But circumstances made it difficult.

I though we lacked a bit of physicality out there at at times, which obviously made things more challenging for us.

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But with Eorl Crabtree back in the frame and Sebastine Ikahihifo having come on board, we’ll certainly have a few more options up front to make sure our presence can be felt in the very near future.

And that’s just what we need.

Huddersfield Giants training at Leeds Road, Huddersfield - Sebastine Ikahihifo.

Talking of rising stars, Sam Wood has this week signed a contract extension until the end of the 2018 season. How pleased are you about that?

It’s very good news.

In Rugby League, you tend to get what you earn and Sam has done that with his attitude and work in training, which has led to him playing some first grade where he has not let anyone down.

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He has definitely benefited from his time with the first-team squad and that particularly now shows when he does play at under 19 level. When he does, he is looked at as a leader and key performer.

Positionally, I think when his body matures and fills out he will end up as a back-row forward.

But for now his youthful speed may be needed in the centres for us and I certainly have no qualms in putting him into the team if he continues to work as hard as he is in training,