Letter from Ken Davy to Season Card Holders

Ken Davy has penned a letter to Season Card Holders, as we gear up for 2026 with new Season Cards now on-sale.

DEAR SUPPORTER OF THE GIANTS,

With an expanded Super League of 14 teams expected in 2026, next season promises a feast of top-quality Rugby League excitement for all of us. Nonetheless, I write to you on the back of a difficult year for the Claret and Gold Giants. At the outset we had great expectations of improving on last year's Super League finish and being well advanced with the local authority in our search for a new home. In both respects we have been thwarted, mainly by factors beyond our control. This has proven extremely frustrating, which I can tell you has tested my patience like never before.

On the pitch, a catalogue of injuries has prevented Luke Robinson from being even close to fielding our strongest line up, with most weeks having eight or more front line players missing. I don't know of any team that has ever been forced to use so many different half-back combinations in a single Super League season. Even when we were able to bring forward the planned 2026 signing of the superb Niall Evalds, two freak injuries have limited him to less than 80 minutes on the pitch the whole season.

Injuries however create opportunities, and the development of the likes of George Flanagan, Jack Billington, Fenton Rogers, Kieron Rush and others has been a joy for us all to behold. We also have the addition next year of four exciting former academy players in Jacob Algar, Logan Blacker, Archie Sykes and Marshall Land. I can't recall the last time the coaches were able to bring four such promising youngsters into the Giants full-time environment, which is a great credit to the players, and everyone involved. In addition to these youngsters, we are also adding some more experienced high-quality names to our 2026 Super League squad as we set our sights very firmly on a play-off finish.

I also want to pay tribute to our 2025 squad who, despite enduring such awful luck, have not complained or found excuses, but have continued to put their bodies on the line week in week out. This determination has enabled us to end the latter part of the season with a significantly improved win ratio. After their break we look forward to them all returning with renewed vigor for that all-important off-season preparation period with 30, fit, strong, motivated and hungry Giants all fighting hard for a place in the team.

Turning to our search for a new home. This too has been well documented in our announcements and in the media, but the only real progress has been to rule out the options that were suggested to us by the Council. My preferred option remains the Gas Works Street site which has currently been rejected by Kirklees Council.

On the training front I have made a further large investment at the Laund Hill site, with the building of a purpose-built training centre for all our players and staff. We expect to have this open early in the New Year and when completed, alongside the new pitch, will for the first time ever, give the Giants a world class training environment all on one site which will be the envy of most in the game.

Another huge positive for us this year was the fantastic experience we enjoyed at Dewsbury when, despite the heart-breaking last gasp loss to Wigan, we enjoyed an atmosphere which was unrivalled in our recent history. It was proof, if proof were needed, that we need a smaller stadium so that we can all get behind our players and create the energy and enthusiasm to spur them on and make life difficult for our opponents. That day confirmed beyond doubt that the moving from the ACCU Stadium is the best way forward for us long term. I say long term, because I can now confirm that the ACCU will be our home next season.

The possible purchase of the Shay which again is well documented, will not occur (if indeed it does) in time to bring it up to the standard needed for Super League for the 2026 season. So next year we will remain at the ACCU stadium. As usual we will be elsewhere for concerts and pitch re-seeding which will give us the opportunity for one or two games “on the road” as was achieved so successfully at Dewsbury.

My plea to you today is for your support for our 2026 Season Card Campaign.

In all honesty I am doing everything I can to realise the objective we all have of another successful GIANTS TEAM playing in a NEW STADIUM and bringing home the SILVERWARE, but I do need you to share that journey with me. Indeed, without you there is no journey to go on for any of us. So, to you, your friends and family I urge you to please support the Club as we go forward into the anticipated 14 team Super league with all the extra excitement of new teams to play and new grounds to visit.

My sincere thanks for your support and I look forward to sharing an exciting journey with you in 2026.

All good wishes.

Ken Davy

Chairman