Huddersfield Giants v Wigan - Aiming to earn respect of Super League

The West Yorkshire club have made an excellent start, winning their opening three games to lead Super League heading into this round.

Indeed, Simon Woolford’s side are the only side yet to be defeated and there are some promising signs that they have truly turned things around from recent campaigns when they have too often diced with relegation.

However, having seen off the challenges of Catalans Dragons, beaten Grand Finalists Salford Red Devils and Hull KR, experienced second-row Wardle believes the Fartowners still are not being rightly credited for their efforts.

Tomorrow’s visit of five-times Super League champions Wigan, who have won three from four, offers them a perfect opportunity to redress the balance.

“I wouldn’t say it’s going to be the biggest test yet,” Wardle told The Yorkshire Post.

“It will be a big one and obviously a good one to see where we are and if we are able to cope with the big boys consistently.

“Everyone keeps talking about how we went to Catalans and they were rusty but they are still a great side; Perpignan’s always a tough place to go.

“People say Salford are a one-year wonder but they constantly play well so to beat them at any ground means you’ve done well.

“If anything, it’s a bit of an understatement on us really; people should respect us a little bit more, in my opinion.

“But this week it is going to be massive. Wigan are playing really well and are level with us on points. If we can do another job this week, people will definitely start saying we are a side to worry about this year.”

As much as the arrival of stellar Australian scrum-half Aidan Sezer has been heralded as a reason behind Huddersfield’s resurgence, a more rudimentary element is the bedrock of their improvement: a desire to defend.

They have unearthed a new-found resilience, something which delights Wardle, the uncompromising 28-year-old who prides himself on and has always enjoyed that aspect of his game.

“With how things have gone the last couple of years, after the last game of last year we had a big talk,” explained the Halifax-born player now in his second spell with the club.

“We wanted to change the culture of the club and just the way things were with it.

“This pre-season we really set down a benchmark about wanting to be known as the best defensive side in Super League and so far we’re three from three, having conceded just 26 points so it is outstanding from the boys.

“We’ve just smartened up in a lot of areas, on and off the field – how we train, how we play, everything. There’s been a mixture of a lot of things and everyone has bought into it and is keen to keep going with it.”

Wigan have beaten Warrington Wolves and Toronto Wolfpack before ruthlessly picking apart Hull FC on Sunday, their only reverse a narrow defeat at Castleford.

On their threats, Wardle said: “Zak (Hardaker) is killing it. He always does and is one of the most consistent players ever.

“Then Bevan French, if you give that guy a little bit of a gap, he’s gone. He’s so quick. We will definitely have to watch him.

“Even with (Jackson) Hastings, people are going off his Salford form but he’s still killing it.

“He’s only going to get better and better for them as the year goes on.

“They have threats all over. We just need to focus on us, concentrate on that defence and make sure we’re taking that line speed forward which we really pride ourselves on at the moment – minimising teams’ metres.”

Having started out at Bradford Bulls, Wardle initially moved to Huddersfield as a 19-year-old centre in 2010 and – mixing with back-row – went on to play 161 games before moving to Newcastle Knights in the NRL in 2017.

Although he made 17 appearances under former Giants coach Nathan Brown, home-sickness played its part and he returned to the UK with Castleford Tigers the following year but spent last season on loan back at Huddersfield.

That has carried on this year but he is out of contract at the end of 2020 and is looking to earn another deal.

Playing alongside younger brother Jake, the prodigious 21-year-old centre, is something he is enjoying although he insists they do not have to link up on the same edge.

Wardle, who won the 2013 League Leaders’ Shield with Huddersfield, said: “I’m not too fussed (playing same edge). We’re in the same squad, we’re in the same club so it doesn’t really matter.

“We spend enough time with each other every day so if anything it could do us a bit of good spending time away from each other; I won’t have to moan as much at him now!

“There’s a lot more to come from him. He’s been a bit hit and miss with injuries but if we can keep him fit and playing consistently, honestly, he could be one of the best centres in the game.”

Giants make just one change with Jordan Turner returning, replacing Darnell McIntosh who has lost his battle to be fit after hurting a knee at KR.

Prop James Gavet, stretchered off in that game, is included while England prop George Burgess is back for Wigan.