Wakefield Trinity v Huddersfield Giants: Stakes high as Kyle Wood seeks more game time

Huddersfield Giants Kyle Wood is pictured scoring against Hull KR (Picture: Tony Johnson).

It has been a case of one step forward, two steps back for his side who finally picked up a first win of the season against Hull KR only to then lose timidly at home to Catalans Dragons on Sunday.

For a club so used to challenging at the top end of Super League, a return of just one victory from six games is simply not good enough.

They sit joint-bottom with Wakefield, who they visit today.

“Sunday’s result makes this game even more important for us now,” admitted Wood, the half-back who won the League Leaders’ Shield with Huddersfield after joining from Trinity in 2013.

“We have got to go back to doing what we were supposed to do against Catalans – kick long, chase hard and grind out a win, not over-playing with silly errors.

“We just need to complete some sets and if we do that and get into the game we have good enough players to score tries.”

If Huddersfield do not improve soon their hopes of reaching the top four could essentially be over by the end of April.

Still mired by injuries, they could be lifted today as former Castleford prop Craig Huby is fit again for the first time this season and Ryan Brierley, the prolific scrum-half signed from Leigh Centurions, may also debut.

Wakefield, though, will look for a lift of their own given it is new head coach Chris Chester’s first home game in charge.

Wood, who scored nine tries in 46 games for Trinity, said: “Obviously, that has happened in the past – a new coach comes in and lifts spirit in the camp.

“But we have to look at ourselves, go back to the drawing board and look to dig out a win.”

The 26-year-old makes only his third appearance since returning from nine months out, first being sidelined by a badly broken foot and then a quad problem.

“It’s good to be back,” he said.

“I was happy to play and get through the first game versus Hull KR and to do two games without injury I was pleased, even if it was hard losing like we did.

“I need to get more game time, build my game up and get some consistency there again, starting against Wakefield.”