Huddersfield Giants keen to press on with recruitment and retention says Simon Woolford

Understandably, given the financial plight coronavirus has wreaked on the sport, plenty of Super League clubs are yet to show their hand when it comes to talking about recruitment and retention for 2021.

They have other matters preying on their minds given there has been no games since mid-March, their players and staff have been furloughed and there is still no definite answer with regards when they can even train together again let alone get on the field to play.

But Huddersfield are one of the few who have started to announce deals for players, confirming earlier this week that promising 21-year-old forwards Sam Hewitt and Jon-Luke Kirby have both re-signed until the end of 2022.

“We have a lot of guys off contract this year,” Woolford told The Yorkshire Post.

“I think the number’s 13 or 14. As far as retention/recruitment we have a lot of stuff to get through and a lot of decisions to make.

“Obviously the last three months have stalled that a little bit but we’re looking to get through it now.

“We can’t keep waiting; we’re going to have to make some decisions.

“Sam and Jon-Luke are the first two but I think there’ll be some more announcements soon. We’re pretty close with a few of them.”

From May 1, any players out of contract at the end of the year can start speaking to other clubs.

Clubs have been given an eight-week extension until June 26 to inform players whether they intend to offer them a deal to retain them for 2021.

But Woolford admitted there are many factors now needed to be taken into account in these unusual times.

“There’s a lot of talk out there about reducing the (salary) cap or not reducing the cap, what clubs are willing to spend next year and how much this virus has affected each club,” said the Australian.

“Each club will have a little bit of a different outlook on what they can and can’t do next year. I wouldn’t say recruitment and retention has been on our priority list over the last couple of months. Survival has.

“But it’s something we’re starting to look at and starting to get through now.

“At the end of the day, I’m pretty certain we’re going to come back and we’re going to be playing in 2021 so we need to crack on if we’re going to get through it.

“There’s some guys there who I think have had some offers but again there’s a lot of adversity around and lots have been thrown up in terms of cap space.

“It will take some time and (Giants managing director) Richard (Thewlis) will get through that.

“We’ve got a bit of a job in front of us.”

Clubs discussed with Super League and the RFL this week the potential timescales of returning to train and play with the Government having said sporting games for broadcast could be played behind closed doors from June 1.

Although the Premier League hope to start on June 12, few expect rugby league to resume with fixtures until some time in July. Woolford conceded he is just hopeful there is some definitive answer soon.

On life in lockdown, the former Canberra Raiders assistant conceded: “It hasn’t been ideal.

“What are we, eight or nine weeks in lockdown now?

“I’m getting to the point now where I need to get back and talking to the players.

“The first few weeks was a bit of a novelty wasn’t it – the boys were training hard on their own – but we’re getting into month three now.

“Like everyone, we’re all looking for a start date or the finish line to the lockdown and a day when we get back, what it will look like, how long it will be for and how long we’ll have to prepare if we do get back at all.

“The frustrating thing for me now is not having a firm date to look forward to. And I know that’s no one’s fault – our hands are tied by the Government – but it’s time we need to get going on the front foot so once the Government does gives us the green light we can be ready and raring to go.”

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