Huddersfield Giants stand firm behind Luke Robinson as they target improved 2026

The new recruit had just gone down in pre-season with a fractured and dislocated ankle, setting the tone for the campaign ahead.

Key players such as Adam Clune, Zac Woolford and Tui Lolohea endured a disrupted winter and the injury theme persisted as the Giants slumped to 10th in Super League.

A year on, there is a sense of relative calm at Huddersfield's Laund Hill training ground as Kelly reflects on a challenging season.

"The only emotion is one of disappointment," he said.

"When pre-season is just beginning, you look at your squad and optimism rules. Everyone wants to be Grand Final winners, make the top six or be in a Challenge Cup final. At that stage, you can't foresee what's ahead of you.

"The injury to George King was probably the first indication of the year to come. We had a major new signing and lost him for half the season.

"We had a lot of major injuries and it became a repetitious theme. If you even look at players we brought in, Bill Leyland, Niall Evalds and Matt Frawley all suffered injuries. We were cursed with bad luck, most of it around the most important positions on the field.

"We couldn't have envisioned that this time last year."

Huddersfield have taken steps to prevent a repeat of the season-long injury crisis, making adjustments to the artificial surface at Laund Hill and shaking up the backroom staff.

Luke Robinson's position was never in doubt, however, after a first full season spent firefighting.

"I think his performance as head coach in the circumstances he had to work in was nothing short of miraculous," said Kelly.

"Bearing in mind that I played and coached for a good number of years, I've seen more talented squads fall apart over less. Very rarely do you get a group of players who understand the reasons why you are where you are and want to continually work together with the coach and staff to bring about change.

"We got to the halfway mark and wanted a much more positive finish. It would have been easy for everyone to give up on that. In the second half of the season, the players showed their commitment to the coach and vice versa."

The Giants won six of their final 13 matches, a marked improvement after winning just one of their opening 14 games.

Robinson was appointed for the future and nothing that happened last season knocked the Huddersfield hierarchy off course.

While there are no guarantees in sport, the club are prepared to be patient with the popular former player.

"We're 100 per cent taking a longer-term approach," added Kelly.

"It would have been easy for Ken Davy and the board of directors to go with the crowd. There were people baying for change but instability wouldn't have been the right way to go.

"Luke held his dignity, stayed calm and kept the players together. He will be subject to the same pressures as every coach, whether reasonable or unreasonable, and it'll be about results and performance."

To deliver an improved campaign, Robinson must find consistency in selection and form.

The old adage 'like a new signing' rings true for several Huddersfield players, chiefly Clune, Evalds and Liam Sutcliffe who managed just 13 appearances between them in 2025.

There have been only three genuine recruits so far, while Robinson can no longer call on Leroy Cudjoe or Oliver Wilson.

Kelly, however, expects the Giants to be better equipped to meet the challenges 2026 will bring.

"The enhancements we've made, bringing in Mathieu Cozza, Asher O’Donnell and Chris Patolo, strengthen the areas we wanted to strengthen," said Kelly.

"More signings are possible but it's identifying the right people. What we're trying to steer clear of is making impatient, irrational signings to fill out the squad.

"We've currently got 24 senior players and nine who are in transition from academy to the first-team squad. Quite a number of them have already debuted in a difficult season.

"George Flanagan is still in that bracket but managed to accumulate 23 Super League games last season. In terms of experience, he's probably way ahead of where he would have anticipated being.

"That will hold us in good stead for next season."

Having reached the play-offs just once in 10 years, Huddersfield will be expected to struggle again.

But the Giants are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to return to the top six.

"Our standing is where we've placed ourselves," admitted Kelly.

"The recruitment element is more difficult because we've moved away from being competitive around the top six.

"The ninth and 10th-placed finishes, we have to turn that around and change perceptions of where we are and what we are.

"It's a difficult transition and one that won't happen in one season – but over the next 18 months, I believe we'll be in a much better position on our playing roster.

"We know we have to bring about change and are all working tirelessly to do that."