Huddersfield starlet Sam Wood to join Batley on loan

Huddersfield youngster Sam Wood will join Batley on loan for the 2019 season.

The 21-year-old has made six appearances for the Giants this season and has played 20 first-team games in total since making his debut back in 2016.

Wood also has experience of playing in the Championship and League 1, having enjoyed loan spells at Oldham, Workington Town and Halifax.

On his loan move to the Bulldogs, Wood said: “It’s a good opportunity to get some regular game time and really compete for a spot in the first-team, it’s an opportunity that I’m looking forward to.

“It’s a good chance for me to be able to play some games for Batley and concentrate on my specialist skills as a centre to improve my game.

”I’ve been in and out of three different teams (this year) with Huddersfield, Workington and Halifax after picking up some injuries, so it will be really good to get some consistency in my game.”

Giants’ managing director Richard Thewlis thinks a full season in the Championship will benefit Wood.

He said: “Batley contacted us about Sam as he is known to them being from the area and asked about his availability for next year and Simon Woolford was pleased to help.

“It has been a disjointed year for Sam being injured and having different loan clubs so to be with Batley from game one and cement a regular week in week out place there should help him.

“We can recall him (as we could this year with Izaac Farrell) should the need arise but only to be in the Super League matchday 17-man squad and if that need arises then it will be good that he’s match fit and battle hardened.

“This is the first of a number of such moves that we’d expect our younger players to make in the off-season.”