2014 Preview - Huddersfield Giants

Silverware in the round shape of the league leaders shield was a big step forward and great achievement for the Giants. Team success was built on individual brilliance from awards season clean sweep man Danny Brough.

For 2014, consistency and continuity is key for Huddersfield to help them build on 2013. They benefited from few injuries to key men last year - they were able to play the same 1, 6, 7 and 9 in 22 of the 27 regular season round. Brough only missed two, one of which was the last round dead rubber. Robinson and Grix both just missed one (that last round). Main hooker Lunt missed four. 

Pack leader Eorl Crabtree only sat out two games. End of season England stars Leroy Cudjoe and Brett Ferres played 25 and 26 regular season games respectively. When you consider the games missed by the likes of Tomkins, Briers, Roby or McGuire elsewhere, Huddersfield can count themselves very lucky last time around.

They haven't increased the squad size this time around, so being injury free may well be important again. If they are they could well progress to more silverware, but if their injury luck runs out then they could slide outside the top 4. 

There have been no serious losses from the 2013 side and two of London's top performers, Chris Bailey and Antonio Kaufusi, have come to Huddersfield to replace back row departures Luke O'Donnell, Dale Ferguson and Jamie Cording. 

Although the usual wing pair went well in 2013, Jodie Broughton is an upgrade in that area and will challenge for more game time than Luke George did. In a poor Salford side he managed 12 tries in 22 appearances, compared to George's 5 in 11 Super League outings (Huddersfield and Hull KR).

Whilst they have talented creators and skilful outside backs, up front is crucial for Huddersfield. The Paul Anderson self styled prop play is vital. The idea is quality and efficiency of effort - key between winning and losing for them is having the props tackle less than opposing props to have more energy to make more yards per carry than the other team. In the six games they lost in 2013 regular season, the props had to out tackle their opposite number in all of them, but didn't do so in three-quarters of their 21 wins.

If they repeat what they did well in 2013 and stay lucky with injuries, then 2014 could continue the success at Fartown. 

League Leaders Odds: 7/1
Grand Final Odds: 8/1
Cup Odds: 9/1
(source: Oddschecker.com)

Mark's predictions:
League place - 5th
Key man - Eorl Crabtree
One to watch - Jake Connor

Tom's predictions:
League place - 1st
Key man - Jodie Broughton
One to watch - Jodie Broughton