Jaimin Jolliffe adds welcome leadership qualities to Huddersfield Giants after Liam Sutcliffe exits
HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS’ coach Jim Lenihan believes NRL forward Jaimin Jolliffe will add welcome power and experience to the line-up – having secured his services on a three-year deal starting in 2027.
The 29-year-old will arrive in the UK with 102 NRL appearances to his name with Gold Coast Titans, where he was previously coached by Giants’ boss Lenihan.
The announcement of his signing, comes just 24 hours after it was revealed Liam Sutcliffe had left the club after less than two years.
"This is a real good addition for us, he's played a lot of first grade for the Titans," said Lenihan of Jolliffe. "He adds to our middles and what we're trying to do here and he adds to us with leadership on and off the field.
"Our forwards are young, meaning we have a younger pack and to add Jimmy to that with all of his experience in the NRL is great. He had opportunities to stay over there but wanted a change. It’s a perfect fit for us."
Former Leeds Rhinos and Hull FC centre, Sutcliffe joined the Giants ahead of the 2025 season but has seen his time there decimated by injury, making just five appearances in all.
Last week saw him loaned out to Halifax Panthers but he has now joined fellow Championship side Midlands Hurricanes for the remainder of the 2026 campaign.
"I’m really exciting to get started,” said Sutcliffe. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about Midlands and speaking to Mark (Dunning, Hurricanes’ head coach) made my decision to sign for the club a lot easier.”
Hurricanes are currently eighth in the Championship standings, with the top 10 going through to the play-offs.
Dunning added: “Liam has hundreds of senior appearances under his belt at both Super League and international level, and his ability to play in a number of positions is going to be invaluable to us.
“Upon finding out he had left Huddersfield we had to act quickly to ensure we got our man and that is what we did.”
Giants’ director of rugby, Andy Kelly, said: “Liam’s time here has been blighted by injury and we have never truly seen what he would have brought to the club if injury free.
"It has to be said Liam has always acted with the highest levels of integrity and professionalism when trying to reach full fitness and take his place in the team, hopefully as he moves away from the club he will find consistency in his time on the field and we wish him well for the future."