Brown seeks Giant strides

Coach hopes for further success this year

By Rachel Griffiths   Last updated: 21st December 2009  

Brown seeks Giant strides

Brown: Seeking improvement

To maintain where we were we need to improve. If you stand still, you'll go definitely go backwards

Nathan Brown
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Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown is adamant his side can top last season's surprise third-placed Super League finish.

Leeds and St Helens were the only teams to end the year ahead of the Giants, who also reached the Challenge Cup final during Brown's debut season, but the Australian insists his side have even more to offer in 2010.

Close-season recruits include St Helens second rower Lee Gilmour, New Zealand international David Fa'alogo and Wakefield duo Brad Drew and Scott Grix, and the Brown believes his line-up presents more of a threat than they did 12 months ago.

"We are definitely advanced on where we were at this stage last year," said Brown.

"We've got a thicker squad, it's our second year with them and we've added some class players to it.

"The squad are a lot fitter than they were at this stage last year and they are much more used to some of the defensive systems we brought in.

"To maintain where we were we need to improve. If you stand still, you'll go definitely go backwards.

"If you can improve, you can hopefully gain on the sides that are above and keep yourself ahead of the sides that are behind you."

Backseat

Brown has suggested that experienced hookers Drew and David Faiumu will take the backseat to former Workington part-timer Shaun Lunt when the new season gets underway in February.

Lunt has landed the number nine shirt after an impressive finish last season, despite spending most of what was his debut Super League year in the shadow of England hooker Scott Moore.

Although Moore has returned to St Helens, Lunt is still in competition with Drew, while Faiumu is likely to feature in the back row.

"Shaun Lunt has become the team's number one hooker and I don't think anyone would dispute that," said Brown.

"I thought in the last third of the year Lunty was probably the form hooker in the competition."

In another crucial switch, Leroy Cudjoe has replaced Martin Aspinwall in the number two jersey, with the former Wigan winger now expected to fight for a spot in the second row.

"He is really comfortable with his new role and he is training really well," added Brown.