Ian Watson reckons Huddersfield winger Jermaine McGillvary’s playing better than ever.
The ex-England star, 34, scored twice to send Huddersfield up to third. He’s grabbed 11 tries in 17 games this term and helped see off Salford’s fightback. Head coach Watson, who’s signed a new deal until the end of 2026, said: “I spoke to Jez a few weeks back and told him his form’s outstanding.
“It’s as well as I’ve seen him play for a long time. He was great again today. And it’s not just his finishes but his work out of backfield and defence as well.”
Giants were in command after McGillvary scored his first try on the stroke of half-time for a 24-6 interval lead. But Salford’s Aussie stand-off Brodie Croft weaved through for a brilliant solo try in the 47th minute. And when he cut them open again just four minutes later, Sam Luckley backed up to storm over.
It was the ex-Newcastle Thunder prop’s first try in Salford colours. He hails from nearby North Shields and is a massive Newcastle United fan. Luckley celebrated in front of the Gallowgate End with an Alan Shearer arm in the air. And Marc Sneyd slotted his third conversion to see Salford just 24-18 behind.
But any hopes Luckley had of winning on the home turf of his beloved Magpies was soon ended. Tui Lolohea’s quality long pass saw McGillvary dash over for his brace in the 62nd minute. And Olly Russell kept up his 100 per cent record with the boot by curling over the touchline conversion.
On-loan Warrington centre Toby King got Giants off to a dream start by collecting Russell’s high kick without even breaking stride to score his first try for the club in the fourth minute. Owen Trout twisted through some feeble defence for Huddersfield’s second. And then Chris McQueen mopped up when Rhys Williams failed to deal with a kick.
Salford boss Paul Rowley said: “We looked like a team that just stepped off a three-hour bus journey. And they looked like one that’d been having massages and a swim this morning. We were really soft in the first half. We made it easy for Huddersfield.”
