Huddersfield Giants’ Coaching Carousel: A Retrospective on 10 Super League Tenures
Huddersfield Giants have seen a revolving door of 10 permanent head coaches during their time in the Super League since 1998, with the latest being Ian Watson, who departed earlier this week.
Now, let’s take a closer look at how these 10 individuals have fared at the John Smith’s Stadium, ranking them by their win percentages from worst to best:
10. John Kear (2000) – 10.52% win rate (P:19, W:2, D:0, L:17)
The Huddersfield-Sheffield Giants head coach in 2000, Kear’s tenure was short-lived, lasting just 19 games before his departure in mid-July.
9. Garry Schofield (1998) – 15.38% win rate (P:13, W:2, D:0, L:11)
Player-coach Schofield’s spell in charge was even briefer, winning just two of 13 matches at the start of the Giants’ maiden Super League campaign in 1998.
8. Mal Reilly (1999) – 18.75% win rate (P:32, W:6, D:0, L:26)
Reilly took over for the 1999 season but could only guide the Giants to a bottom-placed finish in Super League, despite winning five league games and one in the Challenge Cup.
7. Tony Smith (2001 – 2003) – 31.66% win rate (P:60, W:19, D:2, L:39)
Smith’s tenure spanned three seasons, including the club’s relegation in 2001 and immediate return to the top flight in 2003, with a win rate of just over 31% across all competitions.
6. Rick Stone (2016 – 2018) – 38.29% win rate (P:47, W:18, D:3, L:26)
The Australian head coach took charge in mid-2016, leading the Giants to an eighth-place finish the following season before being dismissed in March 2018.
5. Jon Sharp (2004 – 2008) – 43.66% win rate (P:142, W:62, D:2, L:78)
Sharp enjoyed a relatively lengthy spell, guiding the Giants to the 2006 Challenge Cup final, despite failing to reach 15 wins in one of his four full seasons.
4. Simon Woolford (2018 – 2020) – 45% win rate (P:60, W:27, D:0, L:33)
The New South Wales native succeeded Stone in 2018, overseeing an up-and-down tenure before departing midway through the disrupted 2020 campaign.
3. Ian Watson (2021 – 2024) – 47.11% win rate (P:104, W:49, D:1, L:54)
Watson’s tenure came to an end this week, having led the Giants to the play-offs in 2022 but enduring a disappointing 2023 season so far.
2. Paul Anderson (2012 – 2016) – 54.91% win rate (P:122, W:67, D:5, L:50)
Anderson’s time in charge included the club’s first League Leaders’ Shield triumph in 81 years, though they fell short of Grand Final glory.
1. Nathan Brown (2009 – 2012) – 59.83% win rate (P:122, W:73, D:1, L:48)
Topping the list is Australian coach Nathan Brown, whose three full seasons at the helm all saw Huddersfield reach the Super League play-offs, making him the Giants’ most successful Super League-era boss.
🔗 Source
