JIM LENIHAN says Huddersfield Giants will be a better team with Adam Clune involved, amid speculation over his future.
Club captain Clune has been linked with a move away from the Giants, with the 31-year-old out of contract at the end of this season.
He’s currently sidelined by a hamstring injury which is expected to keep him out for at least a further two months.
The absence of the former Newcastle Knights talisman has been felt hard, with Huddersfield bottom of the Super League table with just two wins to their name.
Lenihan says that his halfback qualities are needed – whether they come from Clune himself or someone else.
“At the moment, he’s still contracted to us but he’s a tremendous player and when he plays for Huddersfield the team plays a lot better,” Lenihan said.
“There’s a lot of work we’ve got to do to see where he is with his body and we will see where he can get to moving forward.
“You can see when Adam plays with us as an on-ball half that organises us that he makes a difference, so we need to make sure we have one of those.”
In terms of other moving parts for 2027 and beyond, Lenihan is in talks with off-contract players.
“It’s not even a weekly discussion, there are discussions daily,” he said.
”We do have some availability for some players coming off contract but we are still in a position where the players here are fighting for a contract and their position.
“There’s no greater instinct than self-preservation and getting a new contract is one of those things.
“We want to make sure we give players every chance to earn a new deal.”