Challenge Cup final just the beginning of a legacy, says Ian Watson

Drew Darbyshire
Huddersfield Giants celebrate reaching Challenge Cup final SWpix

Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix

Huddersfield coach Ian Watson says reaching the Challenge Cup final is just the beginning of their quest to become an established top-four club.

The Giants will face Wigan in the final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 28 thanks to a 25-4 win over Hull KR in the semi-finals at Elland Road.

Huddersfield last won the Challenge Cup 69 years ago, but Watson believes silverware is not far away for the West Yorkshire club.

He said: “It’s outstanding. I’m made up for the club and for (owner) Ken (Davy) and people who have been here for a long period of time chasing success.

“It’s the first step for us. When I came here we said this is what we wanted to start achieving consistently. To get to our first major final one-and-a-half years in is a big, big positive for us.

“We want to build a legacy, we want to be a top-four club and everything around it set up.

“But we’ve not won anything yet. We’ve got to a major final and the job now is to go on and win it.”

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Ian Watson full of praise for Jermaine McGillvary

The Giants coach was delighted with the performance of England international winger Jermaine McGillvary in their win over Hull KR.

Watson said: “I think that’s the best game he’s had while I’ve been here.

“He was outstanding and showed what he was about. His finish was an international finish.”

Huddersfield will face Wigan in Super League at the John Smith’s Stadium on Thursday night.

Watson added: “We’ll give the players a few days off to enjoy the win. It does take a lot of you. But we want to be a consistent team so we want to win that game.”

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