Super League XXIII: Huddersfield talking points

Will Jermaine McGillvary 's World Cup form inspire the Huddersfield Giants to greater things in 2018?

Captain: Leroy Cudjoe

Coach: Rick Stone

2017 Position: Regular season - 8th. Super 8s - 8th

Key player - Jermaine McGillvary

All eyes on Huddersfield's winger in 2018. What a World Cup he had. Jermaine McGillvary scored seven tries in six games as England made the final, shrugging off those allegations of a bite from Lebanon's Robbie Farah. Those performances have inevitably led to links with the NRL. McGillvary is a fast, powerful winger, capable of scoring terrific touchdowns and barging his way through defenders at the same time. He scored 19 tries in 2017, far more than any other Giants player in a mediocre season. And McGillvary also notched up 3883 metres at an average gain of 8.71 a drive. That's over a thousand more than any other Huddersfield player. The real question is, will he be at the club for the start of next season?

Fresh face - Jordan Turner

Alright, so Turner isn't quite a fresh face having joined the Giants from Canberra last season, but that's an indication of Huddersfield's lack of business so far. Having spent the whole off season with his teammates, Turner will be a big boost for Rick Stone. He's a former Super League champion, having won the Grand Final with St Helens in 2014. And Turner is known for his versatility. He's taken the number four shirt, but Turner is just as likely to pop up in the halves or at loose forward as he is in the centre. He played nine times for the club at the back end of 2017 as they finished 8th in the Super 8s. They'll need more from him this campaign.

One to watch - Kruise Leeming

Hardly a Super League secret now, but expect a big 2018 from Kruise Leeming. An early tell-tale sign came with the announcement of the squad numbers. Leeming has been given the number nine shirt, pushing Ryan Hinchcliffe down to 13 where the Australian actually played most of last season. The academy product, born in Swaziland, started the last 12 games of the regular season in the dummy half slot, making the position his own with his fast darts from behind the ruck. He made the second most runs from dummy half last season in Super League with 197, only behind the expert in that category, James Roby. Expect Leeming to set the pace for Huddersfield's attack again this campaign.

Reasons for optimism

It's been a disappointing two years for the Giants. After mixing it with Super League's elite for a good while, they slipped into the Qualifiers in 2016 before sneaking into the Super 8s in 2017 in the final available place. But the squad is now settled, Rick Stone is into his second full season with the club and there is genuine quality within the side in the likes of McGillvary, Leroy Cudjoe, Danny Brough and full back Jake Mamo. If the Giants can keep their starting 13 fit and firing, they could be a threat for the top four slots.

Reasons for concern

There's not much strength in depth. Recruitment has been thin on the ground, signing Adam Walne from Salford and youngster Colton Roche from Bradford, although both Jordan Turner and Jordan Rankin joined midway through last season. Given the disappointment of 2016 & 2017, it's a surprise to see Huddersfield not invest more in the squad and there's not much quality cover looking through the team list. A bit of luck is needed to progress.