No-nonsense Huddersfield boss Ian Watson has had “honest” conversations with his under-performing stars - and will now see if they can back up their talk.
Last season’s Challenge Cup finalists host Leigh on Friday desperate to avoid a third straight defeat. They were abysmal losing 28-0 at Hull KR last Friday when Watson launched scathing criticism claiming some players needed to “put their ego away.” Still missing regular half-backs Theo Fages and Olly Russell, he admitted getting things wrong trying to fit Jake Connor, Tui Lolohea and Will Pryce - “three full-backs” - in the same side.
Watson said today that one of them would be left out against Leigh meaning Ireland scrum-half Kieran Rush, 20, could potentially come in for a debut. But it’s been a week of soul-searching at John Smith’s Stadium with Huddersfield - tipped by many to be title challengers - realising they are not as good as they thought.