Wakefield Trinity v Huddersfield Giants - Simon Woolford departs in chaotic build-up to derby clash

Initially, news filtered through about a positive Covid test at last week’s opponents Leeds Rhinos.

As Huddersfield prepared for today’s fixture against Wakefield Trinity, that delayed the start of their final training session as track and trace came into work.

In the end, three Giants players who faced Leeds last week needed to be stood down, prompting a late rejig of Simon Woolford’s side as they sought to end a six-game losing run.

However, by that point, it emerged it was not even Woolford’s side to rejig; the Australian head coach had also left the club following a surreal morning at Leeds Road.

When weekly press conferences are cancelled at such late notice – as Woolford’s was yesterday – it generally spells the end for the man at the helm.

Admittedly, Giants had confirmed on Monday the 45-year-old would not be with them in 2021, saying he would be leaving once his contract concluded at the end of this season.

In that release, managing director Richard Thewlis hoped to now “concentrate on the specific task in hand” which was securing their first win since lockdown and “supporting Simon and the squad in achieving their goals for the end of the year.”

Matters, though, must have altered somewhat in the following 48 hours as yesterday Thewlis said: “Simon and I caught up today regarding the position and we both agreed this (immediate parting) is best for both parties.

“I would like to pay tribute to Simon for his professionalism and realisation of the situation once it was known he wasn’t seeking an extension and everyone here wishes him and his family every success in the future.

“He returns to Australia after just over two years experience here as Head Coach and am sure will have many suitors down under for his services ”

Woolford – appointed in April 2018 – was generally liked by the club’s supporters and there had been some surprise when he told reporters a fortnight ago that he wanted to extend his stay but did not expect to be retained.

The club, having not offered him a contract at that point, clearly were readying themselves to make a change. After Monday’s news, Woolford had also ‘liked’ a number of Tweets from fans expressing sadness at his planned departure, including some attacking the club for allowing it to happen and even one suggesting Thewlis should leave as well.

Clearly, that cannot have helped the relationship and there has been a parting of the ways.

Assistant coach Luke Robinson, the 36-year-old former Giants and England scrum-half, has been put in charge for the interim, assisted by Kim Williams and the club’s vastly-experienced football manager Andy Kelly.

Woolford helped take Giants from bottom to the verge of the play-offs in his first season but was blighted by injuries last year when the club only escaped relegation on the final day.

They started this term by winning four of their opening five Super League games but then lost to Toronto Wolfpack in the Challenge Cup before the season was shut down due to the pandemic.

They have lost all five games since it resumed, including Friday’s 13-12 defeat to Leeds – although that was the third time in that run they had lost by just a solitary point.

With that in mind, and given how he has improved the squad and the quality of its youngsters, it is easy to see why many feel the former Canberra Raiders hooker should have been allowed more time to ‘finish the job’.

As is always the case, only time will tell if the club has made the right call but there is a nagging fear that they could soon be back to square one once again, just as they were after fellow Australian Rick Stone’s 18-month reign.

Indeed, Wakefield coach Chris Chester spoke yesterday morning about being “shocked” Woolford would be heading home at the end of the season.

He will have been even further shocked to later learn they will not be shaking hands – or touching elbows – after today’s game when youngster Robson Stevens comes into a reduced 20-man squad along with Tom Holmes.

Woolford Tweeted last night: “I’m proud I’m leaving the Giants squad in a much better state then the one I came into, and I wish the lads all the very best for the future.”

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James Mitchinson

Editor