Huddersfield coach Anderson sets top-four target for next season

Huddersfield head coach Paul Anderson has set a top-four finish as the minimum requirement for his team ahead of the new Super League season.

The Giants have finished first and third in the last two seasons but have still to deliver silverware in the summer era.

Super League XX kicks off in just over three weeks with the play-offs restructured this year, sides have been reduced from eight to four teams, and Anderson knows there can be no letting up from his side.

He said: "I think we've got a lot more depth and balance and I think that's going to be key this year. With just 23 rounds to get yourselves where you need to be, the intensity is going to be there every week.

We have to be the better team that comes through the other side in those games. Hopefully we'll have the opportunity to do that this year.

"After 23 rounds, we have to be in the top four to be in with a chance of winning the Grand Final. With what we've achieved over the last few years, top four is the minimum standard for us."

Huddersfield's consistency throughout the regular season has been undermined by a continuing failure in the crucial play-offs, with just three wins from 11 ties, and captain Danny Brough admits it is a concern.

"Hopefully we can mend a few wrongs because it's happened a few too many times," Brough said.

"I don't think it's mental, I just don't think we've played to our ability in the big games. We have to be the better team that comes through the other side in those games. Hopefully we'll have the opportunity to do that this year."

'Genuine'

Anderson believes the addition of Castleford duo Craig Huby and Jamie Ellis, Wigan back-rower Jack Hughes and Bradford youngster Oliver Roberts has given him a squad more geared up to cope with injuries.

"The first year I was here, we ran with one genuine half and one genuine nine and that was Broughy and Lunty (Shaun Lunt)," Anderson said. "This year we've added Jamie Ellis and we've got more depth in the key areas.

"We've got genuine competition for places - not one person is guaranteed an easy path into the team. We've got three genuine strike back-rowers, three genuine wingers and plenty of people who can play all over.

"Previously, if we lost a Danny Brough, which we did do at the back end of last year, everything fell apart a little bit, but now we've got Kyle Wood, Jamie Ellis and Luke Robinson who can play there. We've got plenty of options."

The new faces have replaced overseas trio Jason Chan, David Faiumu and Antonio Kaufusi, which leaves Huddersfield with only two foreign imports, Chris Bailey and Ukuma Ta'ai, the lowest number in Super League.

Anderson says the club do not have a deliberate policy to reduce their overseas quota but he is not unhappy to go down the British route.

"With the way things are at the moment with the NRL and their salary cap, it's harder and harder to get overseas players," Anderson said.

"The other thing is that with young British players, you know what you're getting. They don't need to settle and things like that."