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2026 Season Preview: Huddersfield Giants
25 Jan 2026
Another club looking for an improved 2026 Betfred Super League season is Huddersfield Giants who finished last year in tenth spot with just seven league victories to their name. It has been a pattern for the Giants in recent seasons with just one Play-Off berth (2022) in the last ten years.
A handful of new names have joined the club including former Wakefield duo Mathieu Cozza and Olly Russell alongside NRL prop-forward Chris Patolo, however a lot of Super League experience has departed, with the loss of Leroy Cudjoe, Oliver Wilson and Ashton Golding.
But the Claret & Golds are feeling positive, and will be determined not to disappoint as they enter their new era with the 'Giants Unleashed.'
Giants Unleashed - A new era for the Huddersfield Giants.
— Huddersfield Giants ?? (@Giantsrl) January 16, 2026
Read More ? https://t.co/POuv8mqale#GiantsUnleashed pic.twitter.com/ZEsYHzsagB
Injuries plagued their 2025 campaign, so keeping their first teamers fit will have a huge say on how they fare in 2026.
The Giants will need to cause a few upsets if they are to push towards the upper echelons and compete for a Play-Off spot in 2026, but Luke Robinson and co will no doubt be up for the challenge.
Can Huddersfield improve their fortunes?
? BIG session this morning!#Since1895 pic.twitter.com/acyKb6zVue
— Huddersfield Giants ?? (@Giantsrl) December 30, 2025
Ins & Outs:
Ins: Niall Evalds (Hull KR), Mathieu Cozza (Wakefield), Chris Patolo (Manly Sea Eagles), Asher O’Donnell (Brisbane Tigers), Olly Russell (Wakefield)
? New boys settling in well!#GiantsUnleashed pic.twitter.com/ptx7rA74TG
— Huddersfield Giants ?? (@Giantsrl) January 22, 2026
Outs: Leroy Cudjoe, Jake Bibby, Jack Bibby, Aidan McGowan, Elliot Wallis, Oliver Wilson, Ashton Golding
Who are the ones to watch?
Since arriving at Huddersfield in 2024, Adam Swift has been the Giants most prolific try-scorer with 27 tries in 30 appearances. The 2024 season saw Swift hit blistering form scoring in 11 consecutive outings and the winger will be hoping of rediscovering that form this year.
Niall Evalds joined the Giants on loan last season but only managed two appearances before being ruled out with injury. Evalds has struggled for consistent game time over the past four seasons but when fully fit can cause trouble for defences across Super League proven during his time at Salford and Castleford earning him an England cap in 2021.
Newest acquisition Chris Patolo will look to bolster the Giants pack and provide some much-needed strike down the middle of the field. Patolo has 27 NRL appearances to his name with the Canterbury Bulldogs.
Elsewhere, Luke Robinson will be looking for big seasons from his trio of spine players in Tui Lolohea, Adam Clune and Zac Woolford who on their day have the potential to light up Super League.
? Poetry in motion. #Since1895 pic.twitter.com/xOK11po7cQ
— Huddersfield Giants ?? (@Giantsrl) December 30, 2025
Who is the next generation?
Despite having a breakthrough season in 2025 which saw him nominated for the Betfred Super League Young Player of the Year Award, George Flanagan Jr is still very much the Giants ‘next generation’ star. Flanagan featured 25 times for the Giants in 2025, crossing for ten tries and becoming an integral cog in the Giants machine.
Any success the Giants have in 2026 will no doubt have the 21-year-old halfback at the heart of it.
Stellar breakthrough season for George ?#GiantsUnleashed pic.twitter.com/LJcWlxevKW
— Huddersfield Giants ?? (@Giantsrl) January 19, 2026
What are the defining dates?
A period which could define the Giants’ season comes throughout July and August when they have five home games in six Betfred Super League rounds.
The run kicks off with back-to-back games against newly-promoted York Knights and Bradford Bulls – both of which Huddersfield will view as winnable games. They then welcome the Warriors to the Accu Stadium before consecutive home fixtures against Hull FC and Catalans Dragons. A solitary trip to York is included in this run.
Magic WKND is always an eagerly anticipated event for the Giants, who impressively hold the best record at Magic with 12 wins, one draw and five defeats.
What is the 2026 squad list?
1. Niall Evalds, 2. Adam Swift, 3. Jacob Gagai, 4. Taane Milne, 5. Sam Halsall, 6. Tui Lolohea, 7. Adam Clune, 8. Tristan Powell, 9. Zac Woolford, 10. Tom Burgess, 11. Asher O’Donnell, 12. Sam Hewitt, 13. Harry Rushton, 14. Fenton Rogers, 15. Matty English, 16. George King, 17. Joe Greenwood, 18. Kieran Rush, 19. Liam Sutcliffe, 20. Mathieu Cozza, 21. George Flanagan Jr, 22. Jack Billington, 23. Chris Patolo, 24. Connor Carr, 25. Jacob Algar, 26. Archie Sykes, 27. Marshall Land, 28. Logan Blacker, 32. Olly Russell
Huddersfield Giants 2026 ?#Since1895 pic.twitter.com/kShZEVwt9b
— Huddersfield Giants ?? (@Giantsrl) January 9, 2026
What are the Giants' first three games on SuperLeague+?
SuperLeague+ is back for another HUGE year of live action, and this is when fans can watch the Giants in the opening rounds (UK and Ireland)*
- Round 1: Catalans Dragons v Huddersfield Giants, Friday 13 February (K.O. 8pm)
- Round 2: Huddersfield Giants v Wakefield Trinity, Sunday 22 February (K.O. 3pm)
- Round 3: Castleford Tigers v Huddersfield Giants, Friday 27 February (K.O. 8pm)
*Overseas viewers can watch EVERY Giants match LIVE every week.
Sign up to SuperLeague+ today to enjoy 130 LIVE games, full match replays, highlights and other exclusive on demand content!
What are the Giants' Betfred Odds?
Grand Final – 80/1
Regular season winner – 80/1
Top 6 finish – 9/2
Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel Winner – George Flanagan 25/1
Click here for the full list of Betfred Super League betting odds
Where can I follow the Giants on social media?
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The Giants and 30 years of Super League:
Despite not featuring in the first two seasons, Huddersfield Giants have become one of the mainstays of the Super League era featuring in all but one season since its inception with a brief relegation to the second tier coming in 2002.
The Giants are one of nine sides to have lifted the League Leaders’ Shield achieving the feat in 2013 narrowly seeing out Warrington Wolves by one point under the stewardship of Paul Anderson. It was the Wolves, however, who prevented an Old Trafford berth for Huddersfield at the Semi-Final stage of the Play-Offs.
Between 2007 and 2015, the Giants featured in eight of the nine Play-Off series’, but have only managed to compete for a place at Old Trafford just once in the last ten seasons, back in 2022.
