Giant hopes

Huddersfield Giants may be rooted to the foot of the table ahead of Rivals Round – but can they finally change their fortunes against Leeds Rhinos on Good Friday?

There would be no better way to do it!

Luke Robinson’s men have endured the worst luck with injuries so far in the 2025 Betfred Super League season, with nearly a dozen of their players currently watching on from the sidelines.

They suffered their seventh straight Super League defeat last weekend to Catalans Dragons, with many asking the question of when and where their first win will come from.

But there’s one man in the Claret & Gold, who’s not only kept up his infectious energy and belief but is also relishing a return to Headingley on Friday night – and that’s Ashton Golding.

Golding may be Leeds born and bred, but he recently entered his sixth season as a Huddersfield Giant – and has been helping to rally the troops in what has been a difficult start to the new campaign:

“It's been a really tough start to 2025 with an unprecedented amount of injuries,” said Golding.

“We’re having to rely on players playing out of position, but the biggest thing that I’ve taken note of is how these players are all on their individual journeys.

“Some youngsters have essentially been asked to leapfrog two or three years in their journey and become that player that they know they can be at some point, so I think they’ve done a remarkable job ultimately.

“Whenever you’re down on bodies and troops, you’re also down on luck. It’s been a tricky start but that’s just what it is.

“We’re asking lads that are only 17-18 to be the equivalent of a 25–26-year-old seasoned Super League pro-athlete, but they haven’t been through the trials and tribulations of becoming that yet.

“It’s difficult to say how much the injuries have affected us, because you don’t know what it could or would have been like, but training with low numbers has been hard, as you can’t do the same sort of work you would do with a full team.

“But what I’ve found out about this group is that we’re very resilient, as you can see from our performances. We are scrapping for every inch, and we are fighting for every little ball and every tackle.

“It’s not a great start, but it's just a start and it’s not the end. I'm quite excited to see what the end of this journey looks like with this group of men.”

Seven successive defeats would arguably be enough to dampen anyone’s mood, but Golding insists that his side have remained in good spirits – and must keep motivated and spurred on by the idea of overcoming adversity:

“You actually find that when things are against you, your team actually starts to dig deep, become resilient and find that morale,” said Golding.

“We’ve got a tough bunch of individuals at this club, who are willing to work hard for each other.

“The fundamentals of rugby league are hard work, and we've definitely got that in abundance now. Of course, we can sprinkle talent, we can sprinkle finesse, and we can have a bit of X Factor in there that we've probably not 100% got right now, but our team morale is high, and I think the energy is high because we know what’s coming.

“We know the work we're putting in. We see the day-to-day where some people probably don't.

“The next few games are massive, especially going into Leeds. The win is on its way. It's not going to just happen though – it’s going to have to be an accumulation of all the work we've put in over the last seven games, plus some X Factor and some finesse.

“And for me personally, there’s no better time and no better place to do it against Leeds on Good Friday.”

As someone who came through the Leeds Rhinos ranks and made over 60 senior appearances in the Blue & Amber, Golding always seizes each and every opportunity to play against his hometown club – and this Rivals Round fixture is one that fills him with a lot of excitement:

“It’s a fixture I always mark up at the start of every year – being a Leeds lad and coming through the system there.

“I love the people there, I never burnt any bridges, so I’ve still got some great friends and family there.

“I’ve got some fond memories at Leeds. It means the world to me playing at Headingley.

“It’s always exciting to play there, especially with 15,000+ fans there screaming. I've tried to explain it to a few of the boys that haven’t played there yet just how special that place is – when it's pumping and it's electric and you're playing well.

“It’s one of the best places to go and win when you’re not a Leeds player – and I’ve done that before too.

“I’ve enjoyed those moments.”

Last time out at Headingley, it was indeed the Giants who came up with the spoils. There’s certainly been some classics over the years – and it was Adam Clune who came up with Huddersfield’s dramatic match-winner in 2024.

“Looking at history and form, they’ve always been tough and tight games, and last time we were there we got the win,” Golding continued.

“When Kevin Naiqama scored to tie the game up a 24 points apiece and then when Cluney [Adam Clune] scored down the right edge with minutes to spare – it was unbelievable.

“So anything can happen! We understand it’s going to be tough, but I can’t wait!”

And if anyone was to question the level of intensity of in a Leeds versus Huddersfield clash, Golding recalled one particular moment in his early derby days:

“When playing for Leeds against Huddersfield right near the start of my career – I remember getting knocked clean out!

“It was a bit crazy to be honest – my tooth popped out and I had to hold it in place overnight. Thankfully we managed to save it!

"We all step up for the occasion."

Indeed, everybody raises their game for Rivals Round, and it’s a fixture that means more, especially for Golding:

“I don’t treat it the same as any other fixtures, I won’t lie.

“It’s Leeds. It’s the club that I've always looked to and supported and a club I’ve played for and represented.

“Now they are my opponents. Going back to Headingley is always that feeling of going back to where it all started.

“Whether you’re playing for or against Leeds, you can really feel that pressure of the crowd. I’ve felt that first hand.

“On Friday, we need to be in this game, as we'll play better to the pressures of the huge crowd of Leeds supporters. Hopefully, we can then use that against them.

“It’s got a different feel for me. It’s almost like Play-Off mentality.”

But Leeds, who have their sights set on a top six spot, are predicted to come out guns blazing.

They also have former Giants mastermind Jake Connor pulling the strings in the halves nowadays, and Golding realises that a brutal battle awaits his side:

“We’re expecting fire. I think if you’ve been watching Leeds this year, you'll have seem that they’re an aggressive outfit.

“Everyone on their line gets up. I’m expecting Jake Connor to kick some 40/20s and I’m expecting some really wide passes from 9 into some real direct plays.

“We know what we’re going to see against them, but as I’ll say to anyone I’ve coached or anyone I’ve played with or against, it's one thing knowing what they’re going do, but it’s two things stopping it.

“We’ve got a real tough task as a team to try and contain their threats and then also showcase our threats as well.”

Are you ready for Rivals Round?

Leeds Rhinos are in action against Huddersfield Giants at AMT Headingley Stadium in their West Yorkshire Derby as Rivals Round (Round 8) takes place live on Sky Sports and SuperLeague+.

All six games across Rivals Round will be broadcasted LIVE and information regarding dates, venues and kick-off times can be found here.

There's still time to sign up to SuperLeague+ if you haven't already, with match passes, monthly passes and annual passes all available.