We're going after second place': Ian Watson makes Huddersfield Giants target clear ahead of Castleford Tigers test

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josie andrews
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We're going after second place': Ian Watson makes Huddersfield Giants target clear ahead of Castleford Tigers test

Post by josie andrews »

Ian Watson remains hopeful of snatching a top-two finish from Wigan Warriors' grasp - but he has warned Huddersfield Giants that they have no margin for error.

Huddersfield are three points behind the second-placed Warriors with four games of the Super League season remaining, meaning they need Matt Peet's side to slip up at least twice in the final two weeks.

The Giants face fellow top-six teams Castleford Tigers and Leeds Rhinos, while Wigan have home dates with St Helens and Catalans Dragons between now and the end of the regular campaign.

The carrot of a home semi-final and a week off will drive Huddersfield on over the next fortnight.

We've not given up on second place whatsoever," he said. "We're going after second place.

"That's the aim for everybody at the club. If we're going to pinch second, we're going to have to win them all.

The boys all know what it'll take now and that we've not quite been there over the last few weeks with the inconsistencies."

The Giants won six straight Super League games either side of the Challenge Cup final but have struggled to maintain those high standards.

After suffering a fourth defeat in seven matches at Salford Red Devils last weekend, Huddersfield saw Wigan go down to Wakefield Trinity to leave Watson rueing a missed opportunity.

"We would have been sat quite nicely one point behind Wigan now," he said.

"We would have pushed Catalans further away from us as well. They're the opportunities you're seeking and trying to achieve.

Salford played great and gave a top performance in that first half and rightly blew us away. We weren't at the races.

In the second half, we looked a lot more like ourselves but then as soon as we started to get into the game, we lost our composure."

Huddersfield's loss of form coincided with Ricky Leutele's absence but the powerful centre has been given the green light to return against Castleford in a major boost for the Giants.


"He will definitely play," said Watson, who added that Toby King will also feature.

"With the performance we showed in the first half last week, it's a no-brainer and he comes straight back in.

He looks good and looks ready, which is good because it means we're getting another one of our senior players back.

"Chris Hill came back last week and needed the run-out. I thought he was miles better in his second spell.

They're coming back at a good time for us."

The John Smith's Stadium date with Castleford is a second chance for Huddersfield to confirm a play-off spot.

Watson knows it will not be easy against the fifth-placed Tigers.

"They're going really well," he said.

They're a threat at the moment and they'll want to stay in the top six and have a shot at the play-offs.

"Likewise for us, we want to stay in or improve our position to make sure we're in a good position when the play-offs turn up.

"It's a huge game for both clubs."

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/r ... st-3809642
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
widdenoldboy
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Re: We're going after second place': Ian Watson makes Huddersfield Giants target clear ahead of Castleford Tigers test

Post by widdenoldboy »

Hmm, with our run in:

v Toulouse Olympique (H)
v St Helens (H)
v Hull KR (A)
v Catalans Dragons (H)


Hudds have

v Castleford (H)
v Leeds (A)
v Wire (H)
v Wakefield (H)

Leeds away will be tough, Cas will be competative.
Wiganer Ted
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Re: We're going after second place': Ian Watson makes Huddersfield Giants target clear ahead of Castleford Tigers test

Post by Wiganer Ted »

If they lose one and we lose two then we still finish second.
We can win all four with good form and a bit of luck!
widdenoldboy
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Re: We're going after second place': Ian Watson makes Huddersfield Giants target clear ahead of Castleford Tigers test

Post by widdenoldboy »

Wiganer Ted wrote: Wed Aug 17, 2022 8:37 pm If they lose one and we lose two then we still finish second.
We can win all four with good form and a bit of luck!
Yeh, and our points difference gives us a "virtual" point, I'm not going to predict our results in case I jinx it :)
moto748
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Re: We're going after second place': Ian Watson makes Huddersfield Giants target clear ahead of Castleford Tigers test

Post by moto748 »

Be nice to bolster that points difference a bit further on Friday.
josie andrews
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Re: We're going after second place': Ian Watson makes Huddersfield Giants target clear ahead of Castleford Tigers test

Post by josie andrews »

Ian Watson's warning to Wigan Warriors after Huddersfield Giants book play-off spot

The Giants secured their place in the top six with victory over Castleford Tigers.

Reaching the Super League play-offs will not be enough for Huddersfield Giants boss Ian Watson – he is now targeting a top-two finish. The Giants have qualified for the end-of-season lottery for the first time since 2015 following last night’s 36-10 home win over Castleford Tigers.

Huddersfield's victory came on the back of an utterly dominant second-half display and left them needing just one more win to ensure a home play-off tie, which looks a formality. Yet head coach Watson is aiming even higher after his men moved to within a point of second-placed Wigan Warriors, albeit having played a game more.

Watson, whose side were hammered at his former club Salford last weekend, believes the victory over Lee Radford’s men has left them ideally placed to push for a top-two finish.

We’re sat in a nice position at this moment in time and that opportunity doesn’t always come around,” he said. “We need to make the most of that opportunity, but it (second place) was always in our sights.

“We’re not satisfied with just being in the top six because you’ve always got to aim higher. We’ve had a tough month but we picked three wins up which is pleasing. We got taught a lesson in the first half against Salford in how you should approach a game.

If we'd have won that, we would be sat one point in front of Wigan and would be putting the pressure on them. We missed a little bit of an opportunity last week. If you finish second, for one you're not playing St Helens at St Helens in the semi-finals, you've got a home tie and a week off.

“With the congestion of fixtures where it's a little bit chaotic, that's a big plus. It's probably more important this year than it would have been any other year.”

Watson is hoping that that his old club Salford can win at Catalans Dragons on Saturday, which would boost the Giants’ hopes of finishing above the French club.

He added: “We've done a good job today and done Salford a favour as well. If they can beat Catalans at the weekend, that'd be really good for us.”

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... n-24802801
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
josie andrews
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Re: We're going after second place': Ian Watson makes Huddersfield Giants target clear ahead of Castleford Tigers test

Post by josie andrews »

Arrogant little to**er 😤
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
Charriots Offiah
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Re: We're going after second place': Ian Watson makes Huddersfield Giants target clear ahead of Castleford Tigers test

Post by Charriots Offiah »

He talks a good game. We won’t lose two games out of our last four.
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Firestarter
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Re: We're going after second place': Ian Watson makes Huddersfield Giants target clear ahead of Castleford Tigers test

Post by Firestarter »

Wigan huddersfield final would be nice
IF YOU STRIKE ME DOWN I WILL BECOME MORE POWERFUL THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE
Charriots Offiah
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Re: We're going after second place': Ian Watson makes Huddersfield Giants target clear ahead of Castleford Tigers test

Post by Charriots Offiah »

Firestarter wrote: Fri Aug 19, 2022 5:05 pm Wigan huddersfield final would be nice
I could subscribe to that but unless one of us finish fourth it can’t happen.
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