Huddersfield Giants’ search for a new head coach has begun, with the club already receiving great interest in the job.
Simon Woolford unexpectedly departed the club last Wednesday, just over a week after the club confirmed he would leave at the end of the season.
Luke Robinson (pictured) then took charge in a caretaker capacity and the Giants picked up their first win post-lockdown with a 29-6 win over struggling Wakefield Trinity.
The Giants aren’t expected to make an immediate decision on their next head coach, but when contacted by League Express, the club’s Managing Director, Richard Thewlis, confirmed the club had received multiple applications.
“We’ve had a number of high class applications, predominantly from the UK market,” he said.
In the meantime the Giants’ directors are offering every possible support to Robinson, Kim Williams and Andy Kelly.
The club is thought to be open-minded on its next appointment, though a domestic coach appears likely. Only one of the last four permanent men in the position, Paul Anderson, have been English.
The likes of London Broncos coach Danny Ward, York’s James Ford and St Helens’ assistant Richard Marshall are likely to be among the front-runners for the position.
However, Robinson himself has also thrown his hat in the ring after guiding his side to victory on Thursday.
“Everyone’s got aspirations to be a head coach and I’m just like everybody else,” he said.
“I do understand that I’ve probably escalated the coaching ladder a bit quicker than some. But I’m not going to lie, I do believe in myself, I know I’m a good coach and it’s something that was made for me. It’s something I’ve always had an eye on. It’s something I did from 21 at Salford when I was coaching the Siddal first team.
“Obviously I’d like to do it, and whether it happens here at the end of my short tenure here, that’s yet to be decided. But my firm focus is getting us playing the type of rugby we were pre-lockdown. I believe in the players, honestly I do.
“I think they’re an incredible group of people and, second to that, really good players. We showed before lockdown we can compete with the big boys.”
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