Huddersfield Giants’ injury issues have worsened with head coach Luke Robinson ruling two more players out, including the club’s star of the season so far.
Robinson has confirmed that the club’s casualty list has now hit double figures following blows suffered by winger Sam Halsall and hooker Zac Woolford, the latter of whom did not fail a HIA but is being held back after suffering multiple head knocks in a short period of time.
As for Halsall, who Robinson hailed as the Giants‘ ‘best player this year’, he’s set for six weeks out with a hamstring injury.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, Robinson confirmed: “It looks like he’s sustained a hamstring injury so he’s probably going to be on the sidelines for at least six weeks. I’m devastated for us and for him.
“Zac Woolford took a head knock and didn’t return. He had one two weeks before at Catalans and actually passed it but at this moment in time, he’s had a couple in the first few weeks and we’re a club who always do the right thing by our players.”
Huddersfield Giants into double figures on injury list
Adding insult to injury, literally, was the fact Woolford suffered the blow after a head clash with one of his own players and after the final hooter sounded in the loss to Castleford.
Robinson said: “It was the last tackle of the game as well, the hooter had gone and it was the last tackle where he clashed heads with Chris (Patolo). When we got him in the sheds, he wasn’t in a great place and having picked up a couple recently, we’re just seeing how it settles.”
On the mounting casualty list, he said: “I think we’re now in double figures on players injured.
“There’s been a fair few in the league this year. It’s not uncommon, and it’s very common for us. We’ve got a lot of players out. I’ve got my one, two, five, seven, nine, thirteen, 15, then there’s a lot of our lads that are in the top 13 bracket that would be playing.”
Robinson even explained that the young players who could seize opportunities are also injured with winger Lewis Jagger someone he would have eyed up to replace Sam Halsall.
He said: “I think this would be a perfect opportunity with a few outside backs missing to let him play and gain experience but even the lads waiting in the wings are injured.”
As for who actually may feature this week, Robinson pointed to Mathieu Cozza and Connor Carr as options with the former named in the 21-man squad last week but not playing.
On Cozza, he said: “He’s somebody who is very useful because he can play different positions. He can play 13 or even a little bit of nine so he can become useful for us.
“Connor Carr has been waiting for an opportunity. He’s an outside back with bags of potential so we need to see him flourish now.”
Huddersfield Giants will name their 21-man squad at midday on Friday ahead of their 3:00 pm kick-off on Sunday afternoon against Hull KR.
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