Ian Watson: Huddersfield Giants coach signs new deal with Super League club

Former Salford, Workington, Swinton, Widnes, Rochdale Hornets, Oldham, Swinton, Halifaxand Leigh hooker/scrum-half Watson had his first coaching job back at Swinton.

He then took charge at Salford in 2014, guided the Red Devils to the Super League Grand Final in 2019, when they lost 23-6 to St Helens, and the Challenge Cup final in 2020, when they lost 17-16 to Leeds at Wembley.

“I have spoken about how I want to try to build something and I feel this is the right club to be able to do that,” Watson added.

“We want to become the new Wigan of old, the new St Helens, that are consistently competing for trophies.

“You just need to get it right with the first team and that will filter through and then you start to get the better level of younger kids coming through.

“Then you can sustain what you are trying to build. At the moment we are still building – we are having a great year so far but next year we should be better and we need to be better.”