The Numbers Game: Week One

As we face Catalans Dragons in the opening weekend of the 2020 Super League Season, we look at the numbers behind the three games in 2019.

Jerry will be key to the right edge

In our three match series with the french side in 2019, Jermaine McGillvary was the top metre-maker in two of those games. While this is not surprising, the numbers do give an indication of the battles fought in the games last year. They were tough slogs with little in the way of open metres through the middle, and much to be found on the edges. 

He ran for 129 metres in the final round, and found himself in the right place at the right time for the winning try. Completing 2 tackle busts and 1 clean break, he bust open a congested game alongside the main-man of the evening, Louis Senior. In the 2020 Pre-Season, much of the productive work has come down the Wardle-Turner-McGillvary axis on the right edge, and much of the progress in 2019 against the Dragons coming down that edge naturally, it's going to be key to secure opportunities for these players. 

Senior service for Louis again

With the injury to Ashton Golding meaning a shift to full-back for Darnell McIntosh, it seems a sure thing that one of the twins will line-up on the left-edge with Jake Wardle for the first game. If Simon Woolford is taking into account the final battle of 2019, he'd look no further than Louis for the left-wing slot. 

There's nothing surprising about that, with half of the youngsters eight tries in 2019 coming in the final game against the Dragons in a performance that was absolutely magnificent and played a key role in keeping the Giants in the top flight. He played also in the previous clash with the Catalans side, and made 249 metres in his two appearances against the Sang-et-Or in 2019. Four tries, two games. Not bad for a lad from Newsome. 

Break the stalemate in the middle

As discussed early, the middle of the park strung out into a cold stalemate in the 2019 clashes against Catalans. Space was found on the edges, with Jermaine McGillvary and Louis Senior the benefit of wing-to-wing plays that opened up space away from the midfield. 

Significant investment has been made in the forward pack in the off-season, with James Gavet and Kenny Edwards joining a pack with Suaia Matagi, Ollie Wilson and Matty English. They posted figures of 525 (Game 3), 611 (Game 2), and 511 (Game 1) in 2019 between all the forwards on the pitch. 

It will be interesting to see if they can break open the middle of the park against a famously ferocious Catalans pack. While Gavet is still a doubt, Edwards insisted to fans at a HGSA Fans Forum recently that he would be fit to play against his former club. The New Huddersfield Giants start now.