Huddersfield Giants 2007 season preview

The Challenge Cup runners up will be hoping for more consistency in season 2007 - if they can replicate the form of their Cup run from last year for the whole of the season, then a play-off spot might not be out of the question? Huddersfield have finished mid-table in Super League over the past four seasons, seasons which have included their share of good wins over strong clubs, yet also some costly losses against less fancied opposition.

Coach John Sharp has recruited cautiously but wisely following the loss of only a handful of players from first team level. Michael De Vere has retired and Jamaal Lolesi from Wests Tigers steps up to partner the now fully contracted Kevin Brown in the centres. Shane Elford will take up one of the wing spots at the Giants, while Jon Skandalis completes the Wests Tigers connection up front, as Wayne McDonald is released and after four years Jim Gannon heads over to Hull KR.

Darrell Griffin joins Huddersfield from Wakefield to further bolster the forward pack, with back-rower Jon Grayshon having left to try his luck in London. Half Paul March heads the other way from the Huddersfield to Wakefield, while hooker Ryan Hudson links up with the Giants following two years out of the game after testing positive for a banned steroid. Hudson has already made the news for holidaying in Portugal near the Giants pre-season camp while still technically a banned player, and fans will be hoping that