Super League Stats | Giants Edition

With over half of the 2023 Betfred Super League Season already complete, we take a look at how the Giants are performing in the stats, provided by Opta.

Let's take a look at how our squad is performing against each other, with different players topping different charts for the various stats that are provided to us from Super League partners Opta.

TRIES

Currently, we have two of our most experience squad members tied on nine tries each for the season, in Kevin Naiqama and Chris McQueen.

Kev, who joined the club in the off-season from Sydney Roosters after winning multiple Grand Final's with St Helens, brought considerable experience, pace and a try scoring ability to the Giants backline and has consistently shown his quality within the side on a consistent basis, scoring two crucial tries in our recent victories over Catalans Dragons and Wakefield Trinity.

He also scored in our last home victory before the break vs Castleford Tigers, and in every game but one, vs Wakefield Trinity away, Kevin or Chris have scored in each of our eight wins this season, showing their crucial value to this squad.

Chris has consistently showed his try scoring ability in the Claret and Gold shirt, crossing for nine this season, with nine games remaining for the Giants.

The former South Sydney and Wests Tigers man crossed for 15 tries in 2022, and is on course to match or even better that figure this season.

TRY ASSISTS

Tui Lolohea, as per usual is topping the Try Assist chart for the Giants, with 10 to his name so far. This is particularly impressive for the Tongan international, as its not close to his 2022 tally of 29, but with Tui in and out of the team this season, to race unto 10 try assists so far, is impressive and shows the value he also brings to the team.

Jake Connor is second with 5, with more of the try assists shared out between Théo Fages, Will Price and Olly Russell.

After having a disrupted start to the season through injuries sustained at his former club, Jake has become settled at his familiar position of full-back and has provided the Giants with some much-needed spark and creative ability, sending Sam Halsall over for a crucial try vs Wakefield last time out. Jake also grabbed another assist in the same game, a short pass allowing Kevin Naiqama to score his ninth try of the season.

TACKLES

As you will have seen on Social Media recently, our on-field Captain Luke Yates once again stands proud at the top of the Super League charts for Tackles made at 770.

This is a huge achievement and one that Luke should be extremely proud of, with an average of 42.78 a game, showing how dependable our captain is to Ian Watson and the squad.

Not far behind is a fellow Australian in Nathan Peats on 650, another huge number for two reliable members of the Claret and Gold, with Peats showing his value in defence, while also being a threat in attack.

OFFLOADS

Although Esan has seen a period outside of the team, he still sits 4th in the Betfred Super League charts for Offloads on 29, which is a massive number considering the talent that surrounds Esan in the charts, such as Toby King, Jack Weslby and John Asiata who have consistently played for their respective sides in 2023.

Esan showed his offload ability vs Wakefield Trinity at the start of the season, playing a part in the only try as he managed to get the ball away, which paved the way for Joe Greenwood to crash over as we ran out 0-8 winners on that evening.

TACKLE BUSTS

One that may surprise you here, and one that probably wont, is Seb topping the Giants Tackle Busts chart, with Tui Lolohea in close proximity behind him.

Seb currently sits on 69, with Tui not far behind on 64.

Now, you'd expect Seb to be here, his impact coming from the Interchange is undeniable and is a huge asset to the Giants, with his style of play giving the squad boosts when most needed.

Tui, however while playing in the half's or at full-back, is more unfamiliar and can be explained with his smart footwork that gets him out of tricky situations, allowing him to power through would-be tacklers.

DUMMY HALF RUNS

Another stat here which Nathan Peats tops for the Giants, and sits pretty in 4th place on the Betfred Super League charts is dummy-half runs, a staple of Peats' play.

Nathan, who re-joined the club from Toulouse Olympique during the off-season, has amassed 99 runs from dummy-half so far during the 2023 season, his quick thinking dragging the Giants up-field and creating the space for Tui, Jake and Russ to make the tries.

CLEAN BREAKS

Yet again, it's one of our standout performers for the 2023 season in Kevin Naiqama who is leading in Clean Breaks with 16.

This stat also sees him sit 4th in the Betfred Super League table, alongside Liam Marshall and Bevan French.

Kevin, despite being 34 years of age, is still a tricky character to deal with on the field of play, and can escape the tightest of areas and tackles, sometimes allowing himself to power over the try line for a score.

ATTACKING KICKS

A staple of Jake and Tui's play is their kicking ability, and their intelligence to spot the highest of gaps to place kicks, turning the opposition around or even regaining the ball with a 40/20.

This was shown on Friday, as a pinpoint 40/20 from Jake Connor saw us turn defence into attack, the man of the moment then assisting Sam Halsall to put us 16-0 to the good on the hooter.

Jake leads this with 54, Tui in close contention with 44.

GOALS PERCENTAGE

Last but by no means least, since coming back into the side and taking over Goal Kicking duties, Olly Russell sits 6th in the Betfred Super League table for Goals Percentage on 81.08 (30/37).

Out of 37 attempts, Russ has only missed 7 and this number would be considerably higher having not missed a large chunk of games due to injury.

All stats provided by Opta and RL Commercial.