Huddersfield Giants
Current season
Club information
Full name	Huddersfield Giants Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)	Giants, Fartown
Ground	Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield (Capacity 24,500)
Chairman	Ken Davy
Captain	Chris Thorman
League	Super League
2007 position	5th
History
Founded	1864
Championships	7
Challenge Cups	6
Kit(s)
Home colours 　 Away colours
Website	Official site

Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club (from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire) who play in the Super League. See also Huddersfield Giants This article is about the 2008 season of the Huddersfield Giants The Galpharm Stadium (formerly the Alfred McAlpine Stadium) is a multi-use sports stadium based in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England. Huddersfield ( is a large Market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, 190 miles (306km north Ken Davy (born 1941 is a successful businessman who is also the chairman of the Super League side Huddersfield Giants and the Football League One side Christopher Thorman (born September 26, 1980 in Wallsend, North Tyneside, England) is a professional Rugby league Engage Super League XII is the official name for the year 2007 's Super League season in the sport of Rugby league. History See also History of rugby league The grass roots of rugby league can be traced to early football history, through the playing of ball games Huddersfield ( is a large Market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, 190 miles (306km north West Yorkshire is a Metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium (which they share with Huddersfield Town FC). The Galpharm Stadium (formerly the Alfred McAlpine Stadium) is a multi-use sports stadium based in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England. Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Huddersfield is also one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895, making them one of the world's first rugby league teams. History See also History of rugby league On 27 August 1895 as a result of an emergency meeting in Manchester prominent Lancashire clubs Broughton Rangers

The club, particularly amongst older supporters, is sometimes referred locally as Fartown named after the ground which they occupied up until 1994, which is located in the Fartown district of Huddersfield. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Fartown is a district of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England that starts 1 km north of the town centre

They play in a distinctive strip of a claret shirt with thin gold hoops, claret shorts and claret and gold hooped socks and are currently sponsored by the University of Huddersfield. The University of Huddersfield is a University in the town of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Early years 1.2 Northern Union and golden years 1.3 Post war 1.4 Decline and revival 1.5 Summer rugby era 1.6 Play-offs for the first time 1.7 2008 Super League season 2 2008 Squad 3 2009 Transfers 4 2008 Engage Super League results 5 Honours 6 Records 6.1 Player records 6.2 Team records 6.3 All time British Rugby League Records 7 Notable Former players 8 References 9 External links

History

Early years

The earliest record of a football match being played in the Huddersfield area is in 1848, when a team of men from Hepworth took on a team of men from Holmfirth near Whinney Bank in Holmfirth. Football is the word given to a number of similar Team sports all of which involve (to varying degrees kicking a Ball with the foot in an attempt to score a Hepworth is a small village to the southeast of Holmfirth and southwest of Jackson Bridge in West Yorkshire, England. Holmfirth is a small town located on the A6024 Woodhead Road in the Holme Valley, within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, Hepworth won a close fought game which "exhibited the usual amount of confusions, bloody noses, etc" and took the prize of £5 which had been jointly donated by each side.

There appears to have been no formal structure to sport in the Huddersfield area until the opening of the Apollo Gymnasium on August 3, 1850. Huddersfield ( is a large Market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, 190 miles (306km north Events 8 - Roman Empire General Tiberius defeats Dalmatians on the river Bathinus. For the game see 1850 (board game. 1850 ( MDCCCL) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link At this time the gymnasium was the only venue in the town where young men could take part in physical activities, it offered the opportunity to participate in fencing, swimming, bowling, cricket and many other sports. Fencing is the art of armed Combat involving Cutting, Stabbing, or slapping bludgeoning Weapons directly manipulated by hand Swimming is the movement by humans or animals through Water, usually without artificial assistance Bowling is a Game / Sport in which players attempt to score points by rolling a Bowling ball along a flat surface either into objects called pins Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries

In 1864 the Apollo Gymnasium was turned into the Gymnasium Theatre. The athletes of the gymnasium responded by forming a more organised athletics association. In an advertisement headed "Huddersfield Athletic Club" they invited "gentlemen desirous of becoming members" to a public meeting at 8 o'clock on the evening of November 16, 1864 at the Queen Hotel. Events 534 - A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published Year 1864 ( MDCCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year The meeting went ahead, a hundred names were registered and a committee was formed. Within a month a new gymnasium was in service in a basement on Back John William Street.

On January 27, 1866 twenty members of the Huddersfield Athletic Club agreed to play a football match against twenty of the Huddersfield Rifle Corps at Rifle Field in Trinity Street. Events 98 - Trajan becomes Roman Emperor after the death of Nerva. Year 1866 ( MDCCCLXVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Although the result was a scoreless draw, a large crowd was attracted. In light of this the Huddersfield Athletic Club agreed to start a football section which was to start at the beginning of December 1866. Initially the Huddersfield Athletic Club made no contribution to the support of the football club and each paying member was forced to pay a subscription of 2s 6d. As the football club grew, it became a useful recruiting tool for the Huddersfield Athletic Club. In 1869 six matches were played and by 1870 three of the club's players had been selected to represent Yorkshire. Yorkshire is a historic county of Northern England and the largest in Great Britain. By 1872 there were so many players that a second team was formed.

The growth in popularity of the club and the need for better facilities led to the Huddersfield Athletic Club approaching St John's Cricket Club with a proposal to merge the two clubs. St John's Cricket Club had been formed in 1866 at Hillhouse and had moved to Fartown ground. By 1875, when amalgamation talks began, over £800 had been spent on developing the new ground. At a meeting on November 27, 1875, at the Thornhill Arms Inn the two clubs agreed to merge to form the Huddersfield Cricket and Athletics Club. Events 1095 - Pope Urban II declares the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont Year 1875 ( MDCCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The motion was passed by 55 votes to 37.

Initially the football section stayed at Rifle Field, but alterations made in the summer of 1878 meant that rugby could begin at the start of the 1878/9 season with the visit of Manchester Rangers on November 2. Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 The new ground would become the club's home for 114 years and would provide the club's famous "Fartown" nickname.

Northern Union and golden years

In 1895 the club were founder members of the Northern Rugby Football Union, (later the Rugby Football League). History See also History of rugby league On 27 August 1895 as a result of an emergency meeting in Manchester prominent Lancashire clubs Broughton Rangers History See also History of rugby league On 27 August 1895 as a result of an emergency meeting in Manchester prominent Lancashire clubs Broughton Rangers

The club has seen many ups and downs in its long history, but for the first 60 years of rugby league it was one of the powerhouses of the game, with only Wigan as rivals in terms of trophies won. Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional Rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.

Harold Wagstaff was only fifteen years and one hundred and seventy-five days old when he played his first match for Huddersfield, against Bramley in November 1906. Harold Wagstaff (1891 - 1939 born in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire) was an English Rugby league player At the time, he was the youngest first-team player the game had seen, he had signed on for a £5 signing-on fee.

Huddersfield beat the touring 1908-1909 Kangaroos 5-3. They were impressed enough with stand-off Albert Rosenfeld to sign him up that evening along with Australian Dual Code International Pat Walsh one of the best forwards of the Kangaroos . Albert Aaron Rosenfeld (1885-1970 was a pioneer Australian Rugby league footballer a state and national representative whose club career For the former All Black see Pat Walsh (rugby union Pat Walsh (1879-1953 was a pioneer Australian representative Rugby union Rosenfeld played his first game against Broughton Rangers on 11 September 1909. Events 9 - The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest ends 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul Year 1909 ( MCMIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting

The club's golden period came around the time of the First World War. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The club was able to assemble a team of players from across the British Empire who swept all before them. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. Known as "The Team of All Talents", they were led by Harold Wagstaff and are still regarded as one of the finest football teams to have ever played. Harold Wagstaff (1891 - 1939 born in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire) was an English Rugby league player In the five years leading up to the First World War they won 13 trophies.

Two members of the team, centre Harold Wagstaff and wing Albert Rosenfeld were honoured by inclusion in the original Rugby League Hall of Fame. Harold Wagstaff (1891 - 1939 born in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire) was an English Rugby league player Albert Aaron Rosenfeld (1885-1970 was a pioneer Australian Rugby league footballer a state and national representative whose club career The Rugby League Hall of Fame is an International Hall of Fame that was combined and continually has additions from the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame, They were later joined by the Cumbrian second row Dougie Clark. Douglas "Duggy" Clark MM (born 1891 in Ellenborough, Cumberland, died 1951 was an English Rugby league footballer and wrestler Of just seventeen players to be elected to the Hall of Fame, no fewer than three were teammates in that famous Huddersfield side. In total, Huddersfield boast five representatives in the Hall of Fame, more than any other club.

The particular fame of "The Team of All Talents" sprung from their extraordinary three quarter play. In 1911-1912, Rosenfeld became the first player to score more than 50 tries in a season - a feat previously thought to be impossible. That season he scored 78. His wing partner, Stanley Moorhouse scored 52. In 1912-1913, Rosenfeld scored 56, and then in 1913-1914 he broke his own record with 80 tries, a record which stands to this day.

On 28 February 1914, the club defeated Swinton Park by a record 119-2 (Rosenfeld contributing 7 tries) in a Challenge Cup tie at Fartown. Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The Challenge Cup (as of 2008 known as the Carnegie Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons is a knockout cup competition for Rugby league clubs across Europe The record would stand until 26 November 1994 when the Huddersfield club broke their own World Record by defeating Blackpool Gladiators 142-4 in a Challenge Cup tie at the McAlpine Stadium - centre Greg Austin scoring 9 tries on his way to 52 tries that season, a world record for a centre. Events 43 BC - The Second Triumvirate alliance of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus ("Octavian" later "Caesar Augustus" Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Huddersfield ( is a large Market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, 190 miles (306km north A world record is the best performance in a certain discipline usually a Sports event Blackpool Borough were a Rugby league team based in Blackpool, Lancashire. The Galpharm Stadium (formerly the Alfred McAlpine Stadium) is a multi-use sports stadium based in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England. A world record is the best performance in a certain discipline usually a Sports event In the season 1914-1915 they became only the second team to win "all four cups" when they lifted the Championship, the Challenge Cup, the Yorkshire Cup, and the Yorkshire League. Between 1905 and 1970 there were four trophies available to any British Rugby league side Challenge Cup Rugby League Championship The Challenge Cup (as of 2008 known as the Carnegie Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons is a knockout cup competition for Rugby league clubs across Europe Historically British Rugby league clubs competed for the Lancashire Cup and the Yorkshire Cup, known collectively as the county cups Huddersfield's dominance prior to the First World War was such that they went unbeaten in 38 consecutive matches before the suspension of the league in 1915.

Huddersfield did not take part in the 1918-9 season. In the 1919-20 season, the first five games were won for a 43 match unbeaten run over six years which still stands as a record today. The unbeaten run consisted of 28 league matches, 8 Yorkshire Cup-ties, 5 Challenge Cup-ties and 2 League Championship play-offs. In addition, Huddersfield were drawing 8-8 in a Yorkshire Cup-tie that was abandoned because of fog and replayed.

The Yorkshire Cup and Yorkshire League trophies were already won when Huddersfield met Wigan in the Challenge Cup final which resulted in a 21-10 victory. Widnes were defeated in the Championship semi-final and Hull waited at Headingley as Huddersfield strove for a clean sweep of silverware. Huddersfield were missing five players who were touring Australasia with Great Britain and Hull won 3-2. Great Britain was traditionally one of the major national teams playing Rugby league.

Albert Rosenfeld's last game for the club was on 2 April 1921, a cup-tie against Leeds. Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar

Post war

Huddersfield won the League Championship in 1949, beating Warrington 13-12 in the final at Maine Road in front of what was at the time a world record crowd of 75,194. This article is about the stadium for the football club see Maine Road F This capitalised on a season which also brought home the Yorkshire League title.

The highest attendance at Fartown to watch a Huddersfield game was 32,912 against Wigan on the 4 March 1950. Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional Rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. More success followed in the 1950 season as Huddersfield retained the Yorkshire League title and reached another Championship final at Maine Road. However, on this occasion Wigan proved too strong, winning 20 points to 12.

On Saturday 17 November 1951, in an ordinary league game, Australian Lionel Cooper scored a club record ten tries, as Huddersfield defeated Keighley 48-3 at Fartown. Lionel Cooper was an Australian Rugby league player for the Eastern Suburbs club (1945-46

Before by the end of the 1950s, Huddersfield had won 3 Yorkshire cup finals, in 1950/51, 1952/53 and 1957/58, and the Challenge Cup final, in 1952/53. Huddersfield beat St Helens 15 - 10 in the 1953 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.

In 1962, the league was split into East and West of the Pennines; Huddersfield and Hull Kingston Rovers met at Headingley, Leeds in the first final of the Eastern Division Championship on Saturday 10th November 1962. The Yorkshire League and the Lancashire League formed two sections of the Rugby League Championship for much of its history

Reigning Champions Huddersfield were favourites to lift the Eastern Division title, especially as Rovers were missing five first choice players with injuries. The Robins, however, set the early pace and were 10-0 up after 30 minutes. Despite a rally by Huddersfield, Rovers hung on to win 13-10.

Decline and revival

By the 1970s, the club had become a shadow of its former self, the old Fartown ground had fallen into disrepair and the club frequently finished in the lower reaches of the league. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970.

Local businessman, John Bailey, took a controlling interest in the stadium, the club and the pavilion. In 1984, in an attempt to revive the club, Huddersfield adopted the moniker 'Barracudas' and Fartown was renamed Arena 84. As the crowds continued to stay away, it became clear that Bailey could not stem the decline. The 'Barracudas' and 'Arena 84' were dropped for the 1988/9 season. [1]

A new board of directors took over in 1989 when and injected some much needed financial resources into the club. As well as beginning to improve the playing staff, the new owners also carried out a considerable amount of work on the Fartown stadium and by the end of the 1989/90 season significant progress was being made. Average crowds topped 1,500 for the first time since the 1970s.

Shortly after the 1991/2 season had begun, Alex Murphy took over as coach in 1991. This is a page on the real life rugby player You may be looking for the fictional police officer better known as RoboCop. Huddersfield were the first ever champions of the newly-formed third division in 1991/2. Promotion to the Second Division had been achieved, and there was pride once again in the famous claret and gold shirt.

In 1993 six teams were invited to take part in an inaugural European Clubs Championship, the six teams consisted of two from the USSR; Tiraspol and Moscow Magicians, two from France; Carcassonne and XIII Catalan and Batley and Huddersfield. XIII Catalan were a French Rugby league team from Perpignan, in the Catalan Pyrénées-Orientales region of France Only weeks before departure the plans collapsed as both Soviet clubs pulled out due to financial difficulties, closely followed by Batley, Carcassonne who had just five players available due to a players’ strike. This left just Huddersfield and XIII Catalan to meet in the "final" in Barcelona. The lead changed hands three times before Huddersfield held on for a 23 – 22 victory.

The club moved to Huddersfield Town A.F.C.'s home ground at Leeds Road in 1992, before taking a share in the McAlpine Stadium (now known as Galpharm Stadium) in 1994. Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. The Galpharm Stadium (formerly the Alfred McAlpine Stadium) is a multi-use sports stadium based in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England.

In 1995 the first team reached the final of the Second Division premiership competition at Old Trafford.

Summer rugby era

In 1996, Ken Davy took over as chairman of Huddersfield and "Giants" was added to the team name. Ken Davy (born 1941 is a successful businessman who is also the chairman of the Super League side Huddersfield Giants and the Football League One side

However, dark days continued. In 1998, due to the collapse of Paris St Germain the club was promoted to Super League despite not winning the second division title. Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, or PSG, is a French football club based in Paris. The team struggled to compete, winning only a handful of games. In late 1999, the club merged with Sheffield Eagles almost purely for financial reasons. Sheffield Eagles RLFC are a English Rugby league team based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They were officially known as the Huddersfield-Sheffield Giants, but more popularly as 'Shuddersfield'. This arrangement lasted only a season before the Huddersfield name was reverted to, due to rejection from both sets of fans. In the 2000 season Huddersfield-Sheffield won only four games, three of them against rivals Wakefield Trinity. Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional Rugby league club that plays in the National Leagues. In the four seasons between 1998 and 2001, they lost 81 times in 99 matches, avoiding relegation for a variety of reasons.

Coach John Kear was sacked and this signaled a change in fortune for the club. John Kear (born 25 November 1954 in Castleford, Yorkshire) is a English rugby league former player and a current coach Little-known Australian Tony Smith was appointed as coach for the 2001 season after a rigorous process. Tony Smith (rugby league may refer to the following Tony Smith (rugby league b This did not seem to have any effect as the club lost he first 14 matches of the season, culminating in a 78 point embarrassment by Bradford Bulls. The Bradford Bulls are a professional Rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, England. This low point became a pivotal day for the club, however. The club won 6 and drew one of the remaining 14 games, only finishing bottom of the table after Wakefield's appeal against a 4-point salary cap deduction was successful. Widnes Vikings won the NFP competition that year and the club was seen to be fit to play in Super League. Widnes Vikings are a professional Rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. The Giants were finally relegated after their best season in Super League.

In 2002 Huddersfield Giants remained a full-time professional teams despite playing in the Northern Ford Premiership. Media Some games are shown on Sky Sports, games involving Celtic Crusaders are shown on Welsh-language channel S4C. The club went unbeaten for the entire league season, drawing only one match and winning a record equalling 29 games. Along the way the team accumulated 1,156 points to equal the record for points in a league season achieved in 8 more games by Leigh in 1986. Leigh Centurions are a semi-professional Rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester, England. The team won the Buddies Cup, as it was then known, and also the NFP Grand Final against Leigh in October 2002, which secured promotion back to the Super League for the 2003 season. Structure The National League cup was first held in 2002 as was part of the redevelopment of the Northern Ford Premiership competition - 18 teams took part

In 2003 under Smith, the Giants established themselves as a Super League club, finishing 10th, above Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Halifax Blue Sox. Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional Rugby league club that plays in the National Leagues. Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic Rugby league clubs in the game formed over a century ago in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. After guiding the Giants back to Super League, Smith and assistant coach Brian McDermott moved onto Headingley to take control of the Leeds Rhinos. Leeds Rhinos, or informally Leeds or Rhinos, are an English professional Rugby league football club based in Leeds St Helens assistant coach and former Hull forward Jon Sharp was appointed head coach for 2004 and the team improved again, finishing 7th in the league and making their first appearance in the Challenge Cup semi-finals since 1971. Jon Sharp is the former head coach of Super League club Huddersfield Giants.

The beginning of the 2005 Super League season saw the club make its highest-profile signing in fifty years when Australian centre Michael De Vere signed from the Brisbane Broncos, becoming the club's first Australian international player since Pat Devery in the 1950s. Michael De Vere (born 11 December 1976 in Campbelltown New South Wales) is an Australian former Rugby league footballer who played for The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional Rugby league club based in the city of Brisbane Queensland.

For the kick off of the 2006 season the club unveiled a host of new signings to strengthen the squad, including the iconic New Zealand international scrum half Robbie Paul. Robert Rawiri Paul (born February 3 1976 in Tokoroa New Zealand) popularly known as Robbie Paul is a Rugby league player for

July 30, 2006 will go down as one of the proudest days in the Giants recent history. Events 1419 - First Defenestration of Prague. 1502 - Christopher Columbus lands at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. After a convincing victory over Salford in the quarter final, the Giants faced Leeds Rhinos (ironically coached by Tony Smith) in the Challenge Cup semi-final at Odsal Stadium, Bradford. Salford City Reds is a professional Rugby league club based in Salford in Greater Manchester, England. Leeds Rhinos, or informally Leeds or Rhinos, are an English professional Rugby league football club based in Leeds The Challenge Cup (as of 2008 known as the Carnegie Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons is a knockout cup competition for Rugby league clubs across Europe Odsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. Against all the odds, massive underdogs Huddersfield pulled out what is regarded as possibly their best performance of modern times, Stuart Donlan and Chris Nero with 2 tries apiece and Michael De Vere with a try and five goals steering them to a 30-12 victory. Chris Nero (born February 14, 1981) is an Australian / Italian professional rugby league player. Michael De Vere (born 11 December 1976 in Campbelltown New South Wales) is an Australian former Rugby league footballer who played for Huddersfield lost the Challenge Cup Final to eventual Super League champions St Helens 42-12, but the performance heralds the best Huddersfield achievement since 1970, and many believe has finally and firmly closed the book on one of the club's darkest chapters.

Play-offs for the first time

For more details on this topic, see Huddersfield Giants 2007. See also Huddersfield Giants This article is about the 2007 season of the Huddersfield Giants

The start of the 2007 season saw the Giants make some exciting signings, including West Tigers trio, Jamahl Lolesi, John Skandalis and Shane Elford, as well as Ryan Hudson who returned to rugby league after completing a 2-year drugs ban. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Wests Tigers are a professional Rugby league football club in the National Rugby League (NRL the premier Rugby league competition in Australasia Jamahl Lolesi (born March 20 1981 in Auckland New Zealand) is a New Zealand Rugby league player for the Huddersfield Giants John Skandalis (born 16 June, 1976 in Sydney New South Wales) is an Australian former professional Rugby league player Shane Elford (born 28 December, 1977 in Penrith New South Wales) is an Australian Rugby league player for the Huddersfield Giants Ryan Hudson is a Rugby league hooker who plays for Huddersfield Giants in the Super League.

Despite much optimism, the season started horrendously for the Giants in terms of results. After 7 consecutive losses they found themselves marooned at the foot of the table, 5 points adrift. Large sections of the fans began to question the coach's ability and as a result crowds began to dwindle and morale was beginning to suffer. However, Jon Sharp maintained that the Giants could turn it around, noting that all of their prior defeats were within a converted try of victory. Jon Sharp is the former head coach of Super League club Huddersfield Giants.

By the end of May, the picture was totally different. The Giants had a Challenge Cup quarter-final to look forward to and had successfully been on their longest ever winning streak since joining the Super League (9 games including two wins in the Challenge Cup). The Challenge Cup (as of 2008 known as the Carnegie Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons is a knockout cup competition for Rugby league clubs across Europe The highlight of this run was the 36-12 victory over the Bradford Bulls in front of the Sky Television cameras on 18 May, the Giants first victory over the Bulls since joining the top flight. The Bradford Bulls are a professional Rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, England. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. ^[1] In addition, Sharp was named consecutively as Coach of the Month for April^[2] and May^[3]

The Giants winning run came to an unexpected end in a shock 14-12 defeat by Salford City Reds at the Willows. April holidays and events National Poetry Month - in United States National Sexual Assault Awareness Month - in United MAY ( also known as: Mei メイ 메이 is a Korean singer well known in South Korea for singing the song "Miracle" Salford City Reds is a professional Rugby league club based in Salford in Greater Manchester, England. They had been overwhelming favourites with fans and bookies as Salford have been rooted to the bottom of the table for the most of the season. After the defeat Huddersfield coach Jon Sharp was quoted as saying that the Giants had contributed to their own downfall by playing a poor kick and chase. Following the 2006 Challenge Cup Final appearance, Giants continued their progress by beating Wakefield for the 9th consecutive occasion to qualify for the play-offs for the first time and a match against Hull FC at the KC Stadium, which was lost 22-16. Hull FC is a professional Rugby league football club formed in 1865 and based in Hull, East Yorkshire, England. The Kingston Communications Stadium, often shortened to KC Stadium or just the KC, is a multi-purpose facility in the city of Kingston upon Hull (Hull

2008 Super League season

For more details on this topic, see Huddersfield Giants 2008. See also Huddersfield Giants This article is about the 2008 season of the Huddersfield Giants

The Giants started the new campaign missing some familiar faces. Long-serving Paul Reilly and Aussie hooker Brad Drew departed to Wakefield, Robbie Paul and Mat Gardner went to Salford and Chris Nero also left the Giants to join Bradford Bulls. Paul Reilly (born May 10 1976 in Huddersfield, England) is a Rugby league player who played for the Huddersfield Giants Brad Drew (born 25 August 1975 is an Australian professional Rugby league player for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional Rugby league club that plays in the National Leagues. Robert Rawiri Paul (born February 3 1976 in Tokoroa New Zealand) popularly known as Robbie Paul is a Rugby league player for Mat Gardner (born 24 August 1985 is a Rugby league player who currently plays for the Salford City Reds. Salford City Reds is a professional Rugby league club based in Salford in Greater Manchester, England. Chris Nero (born February 14, 1981) is an Australian / Italian professional rugby league player. The Bradford Bulls are a professional Rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, England. Luke Robinson and David Hodgson joined from Salford whilst George Gatis and Kiwi Paul Whatuira agreed to move from NRL and Danny Kirmond came in from Featherstone Rovers

It was announced on 22 April 2008 that after playing 10 games of 11 George Gatis was in fact to leave the Giants and return to Australia due to 'personal reasons' The club appeared to have supported Gatis' early exit from his 2 year contract. Luke Robinson (born 25 July 1984) is a Scrum half for the Huddersfield Giants Rugby league team David Hodgson may refer to David Hodgson (rugby league, English rugby league footballer David Hodgson (judge, Australian judge George Gatis (born 25 March, 1978 in Townsville Queensland) is an Australian professional Rugby league player who played for the Kiwi is the nickname used internationally for people from New Zealand, as well as being a relatively common self-reference Paul Khan Whatuira (born July 31 1981 in Wellington New Zealand) is a New Zealand Rugby league player for the Huddersfield Danny Kirmond (born 11 November 1985 in Featherstone, West Yorkshire) is an English professional Rugby league player Featherstone Rovers are a professional Rugby league club based in Featherstone (near Pontefract) West Yorkshire in England.

The misery of the 2008 season continued for the Giants when they were knocked out of the Challenge cup in the fourth round against Hull Kingston Rovers.

It was announced on 2nd June 2008 that Huddersfields coach of 5 years Jon Sharp had been sacked after a miserable first half of the 2008 season. Huddersfield became the third superleague club to sack their coach within as many weeks following a spate of bad results.

2008 Squad

As of 13 June 2008

Nationality	Player	Position	Previous Club
	1. Events 1525 - Martin Luther marries Katharina von Bora, against the Celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Chris Thorman	FB	Parramatta Eels
	2. Christopher Thorman (born September 26, 1980 in Wallsend, North Tyneside, England) is a professional Rugby league The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional Rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. Martin Aspinwall	W	Wigan Warriors
	3. Martin Aspinwall (b October 21 1981 is an English Rugby league player Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional Rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Shane Elford	C	Wests Tigers
	4. Shane Elford (born 28 December, 1977 in Penrith New South Wales) is an Australian Rugby league player for the Huddersfield Giants The Wests Tigers are a professional Rugby league football club in the National Rugby League (NRL the premier Rugby league competition in Australasia Paul Whatuira	C	Wests Tigers
	5. Paul Khan Whatuira (born July 31 1981 in Wellington New Zealand) is a New Zealand Rugby league player for the Huddersfield The Wests Tigers are a professional Rugby league football club in the National Rugby League (NRL the premier Rugby league competition in Australasia David Hodgson	W	Salford City Reds
	6. David Hodgson (born August 8 1981) plays for the Huddersfield Giants Rugby league team Salford City Reds is a professional Rugby league club based in Salford in Greater Manchester, England. Kevin Brown	SO	Wigan Warriors
	7. Kevin Brown (born 2 October 1984) is an English rugby league player Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional Rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Luke Robinson	SH	Salford City Reds
	8. Luke Robinson (born 25 July 1984) is a Scrum half for the Huddersfield Giants Rugby league team Salford City Reds is a professional Rugby league club based in Salford in Greater Manchester, England. Eorl Crabtree	P	Huddersfield Giants Academy
	9. Eorl Crabtree (born October 2 1982) is a Rugby league player who is a prop forward currently playing for Huddersfield Giants David Faiumu	P	North Queensland Cowboys
	10. David Faiumu (born April 30 1983 in Wellington New Zealand) is a New Zealand Rugby league player John Skandalis	P	Wests Tigers
	11. John Skandalis (born 16 June, 1976 in Sydney New South Wales) is an Australian former professional Rugby league player The Wests Tigers are a professional Rugby league football club in the National Rugby League (NRL the premier Rugby league competition in Australasia Jamahl Lolesi	SR	Wests Tigers
	12. Jamahl Lolesi (born March 20 1981 in Auckland New Zealand) is a New Zealand Rugby league player for the Huddersfield Giants The Wests Tigers are a professional Rugby league football club in the National Rugby League (NRL the premier Rugby league competition in Australasia Andy Raleigh	SR	Hull KR
	13. Andy Raleigh is an English Rugby league player from Huddersfield. Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is a British Rugby league club playing in Super League (Europe, having won promotion from National Stephen Wild	LF	Wigan Warriors
	14. Stephen Wild (born April 26, 1981 in Wigan, England) is a professional Rugby league player for Huddersfield Giants Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional Rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Stuart Jones	SR	St Helens RFC
	15. Stuart Jones (born December 7th 1981) is a professional Rugby league player for Huddersfield Giants. Paul Jackson	P	Castleford Tigers
	16. Paul Jackson can refer to Paul Jackson (artist, watercolorist Paul Jackson (artist - theatre, lighting designer Paul Jackson Castleford Tigers are a Rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. Keith Mason	P	Castleford Tigers
	17. Keith Mason is a Rugby league prop forward. He plays for Huddersfield Giants and has previously played for St Helens, Castleford Tigers Castleford Tigers are a Rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. Steve Snitch	SR	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
	18. Steve Snitch is an English Rugby league player Originally from Hull he has previously played for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and is now Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional Rugby league club that plays in the National Leagues. Darrell Griffin	P	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
	19. Darrell Griffin is a Rugby league player with Huddersfield Giants, and an England international Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional Rugby league club that plays in the National Leagues. Ryan Hudson	HK	Bradford Bulls
	20. Ryan Hudson is a Rugby league hooker who plays for Huddersfield Giants in the Super League. The Bradford Bulls are a professional Rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, England. Tom Hemingway	SH	Huddersfield Giants Academy
	21. Tom Hemingway (born 6 December 1986 in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire) is an English professional Rugby league player with Leroy Cudjoe	FB	Huddersfield Giants Academy
	22. Leroy Cudjoe (born 28 March 1988 in Huddersfield, England) is an English professional Rugby league player with Huddersfield Michael Lawrence	C	Huddersfield Giants Academy
	23. Michael Lawrence (born Huddersfield, England) is a part-time professional Rugby league player with the Huddersfield Giants. Sam Barlow	LF	Huddersfield Giants Academy
	24. Rod Jensen	U	North Queensland Cowboys
	25. Rod Frederick Jensen (born January 19 1979 in Atherton, Queensland) is an Australian professional Rugby league player The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional Rugby league football team based in Townsville Queensland. Chris Lawson	P	Huddersfield Giants Academy
	26. Richard Lopag	W	Huddersfield Giants Academy
	27. Richard Lopag born 13 September, 1989 in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England is a Rugby league player for Huddersfield James Martin	SR	Huddersfield Giants Academy
	28. James Luke Martin (born 11th November 1987 in Huddersfield, England) is an English part-time professional Rugby league player with the Huddersfield Danny Kirmond	W	Featherstone Rovers

David Fauimu - Hooker,signed from the North Queensland Cowboys. Danny Kirmond (born 11 November 1985 in Featherstone, West Yorkshire) is an English professional Rugby league player Featherstone Rovers are a professional Rugby league club based in Featherstone (near Pontefract) West Yorkshire in England.

2009 Transfers

In

Brett Hodgson - Wests Tigers

Out

2008 Engage Super League results

Round	Date	Opponent	H/A	Score	Attendance	Giants point scorers
1	10 February 2008	Leeds Rhinos	H	10-30	15,629	TRIES: R Jensen, L Robinson GOALS: C Thorman
2	16 February 2008	Bradford Bulls	A	12-38	10,124	TRIES: P Whaturia, L Robinson GOALS: C Thorman 2
3	24 February 2008	Castleford Tigers	H	64-12	7,184	TRIES: C Thorman, S Elford, P Whaturia, J Lolesi 2, R Jensen, K Brown, L Robinson, K Mason, S Snitch, A Raleigh GOALS: C Thorman 8
4	2 March 2008	Hull F.C.	H	28-8	8,100	TRIES: J Lolesi, K Brown, L Robinson, E Crabtree, S Elford GOALS: C Thorman 4

Honours

• Championship: 1911-12, 1912-13, 1914-15, 1928-29, 1929-30, 1948-49, 1961-62 (7 times)
• Challenge Cup: 1912-13, 1914-15, 1919-20, 1932-33, 1944-45, 1952-53 (6 times)
• All Four Cups: 1914-15
• Division Two Championship (including Northern Ford Premiership): 1974-75, 2002 (twice)
• Division Three Championship: 1991-92
• Divisional Premiership: 1998
• Yorkshire Cup (Rugby Union): 1889-90
• Yorkshire Cup (Rugby league): 1909-10, 1911-12, 1913-14, 1914-15, 1918-19, 1919-20, 1926-27, 1931-32, 1938-39, 1950-51, 1952-53, 1957-58 (12 times)
• Yorkshire League: 1911-12, 1912-13, 1913-4, 1914-15, 1919-20, 1921-22, 1928-29, 1929-30, 1948-49, 1949-50, 1951-52 (11 times)
• National League Cup: 2002

Records

Player records

• Most tries in a match: 10 by Lionel Cooper vs Keighley, 17 November 1951
• Most goals in a match: 19 by Major Holland vs Swinton Park, 28 February 1914
• Most points in a match: 39 by Major Holland vs Swinton Park, 28 February 1914
• Most tries in a season: 80 by Albert Rosenfeld, 1913-14
• Most goals in a season: 147 by Ben Gronow, 1919-20
• Most points in a season: 332 by Pat Devery, 1952-53

Team records

• Highest Score: 142-4 vs Blackpool Gladiators, 26 November 1994
• Highest Attendance: 32,912 vs Wigan, League, at Fartown, 4 March 1950
• Highest Attendance (Neutral game): 35,136 Leeds vs Wakefield Trinity, RL Challenge Cup Semi-Final, at Fartown, 19 April 1947
• Most amount of consecutive wins in Super League: 7 Games (2007)

All time British Rugby League Records

• Most tries by any player in a season: 80 by Albert Rosenfeld, 1913-14
• Most tries by a centre in a season: 52 by Greg Austin, 1994-95
• Most tries by a centre in a game: 9 by Greg Austin, vs Blackpool Gladiators, 26 November 1994
• Highest Score: 142-4 vs Blackpool Gladiators, as above
• Highest Winning Margin: 138 vs Blackpool Gladiators, as above
• Longest Unbeaten run: 43 matches, 1914-1919
• Unbeaten in a Season: 28 games (27 wins, 1 draw), 2001-02
• Most Points scored in a Season: 1,156, 2001-2002

Notable Former players

Lionel Cooper Brandon Costin Dougie Clarke Pat Devery Michael De Vere

Brad Drew Neil Fox Stanley Gene Martin Hodgson Robbie Paul

Paul Reilly Albert Rosenfeld Dave Valentine Harold Wagstaff

The following is a list of Huddersfield rugby league players that have been inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame (in alphabetical order):

• Dougie Clark
• Neil Fox
• Martin Hodgson
• Albert Rosenfeld
• Harold Wagstaff

References

External links

• GiantsRL.com - Official Website
• GiantsRLFans.com - Unofficial Fan Site
• GiantsRLTalentbuilder.co.uk Charitable site

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