What York Knights are expecting from Huddersfield challenge

York are looking for a response after a 30-22 defeat to Toulouse Olympique last Saturday, which ended a run of three straight victories for the Knights.

They’ll target that reaction when hosting Super League bottom club Huddersfield today, with the West Yorkshire side visiting the LNER Community Stadium (3pm).

The match comes just weeks after the Knights defeated their visitors on Magic Weekend, but with Huddersfield putting in a spirited performance in a 24-10 defeat to title-chasing Wigan Warriors, Applegarth remains cautious about Saturday’s opponents.

His message to his squad stayed the same, urging his players to nail their own game before worrying about anything the Giants might produce.

“Each week is a new week, Huddersfield had a real good dig against Wigan and they are obviously playing hard and responding to what Jim [Lenihan, Huddersfield head coach] is asking them to do,”  Applegarth said in this week’s press conference.

“If I’m honest, it’s more saying what I’ve been saying all along, and I know it’s probably getting boring by now, but it’s just about us focusing on our own journey, our own consistency and our own standard.

“We’re making great strides there, but at the same time there are also areas – such as that first-half [against Toulouse] – that we need to make sure don’t occur.

“We’re fully aware of where Huddersfield’s threats are and they’ve got some great threats.

“They are a team that are spending heavily in the salary cap, they’ve got a new coach who is now stamping his authority on that team and it’s starting to look like his team.

“We’re well aware of all of that, but more importantly, we need to be happy with the brand of rugby that we’re serving up.

“We’re still not fully there yet, there’s periods in games where we are there, and then there are periods where we’re nowhere near.

“We’re just chasing that consistency in our own performance.”

Whilst Huddersfield’s weary run of form – 12 defeats in a row – certainly leans in the Knights’ favour, the Giants did battle hard against Wigan last Friday.

A 24-10 score line in favour of the Warriors meant Huddersfield gave a good account of themselves, and they certainly took some belief from the contest too.

It’s no surprise to Applegarth, who said: “It was exactly what I knew you’d get off of Huddersfield.

“Jim has come in and he’s working them out to hit the standards he wants to set, obviously trying to compete high, take those triggers and put teams into positions they don’t want to be in, then to capitalise on that.

“They’ve got some real good strike players out there, so we knew just as we did at Magic that our standard needed to be on point to get what we wanted out of the game.

“That’s not changed, I thought they were very unlucky against Wigan.

“Wigan showed some tremendous grit and determination to get through that, probably not playing the fluent brand of rugby that we experienced when they put 70 odd on us.

“Wigan showed a different way to win, and Huddersfield showed just how quality they could be.”

Saturday’s match against Huddersfield will also be a special moment for one Knights star, with Jordan Thompson in line to make his 400th appearance in rugby league.

Having first started his career at Castleford Tigers back in 2009, Thompson has gone on to have notable spells with Hull FC, Leigh Leopards and Leeds Rhinos before his move to York in 2022.

Applegarth couldn’t be proud of Thomspon, tributing: “I remember saying this about Macca [Paul McShane] at the start of the year, anyone who can play 400 first grade games has had an outstanding career.

“That definitely fits the bill for Jordy, he started out at York when I was still playing, which tells you a bit about him.

“He’s an absolute war horse, definitely puts his body on the line every single time he plays and I’m really happy for Jordy and his family.

“I know how much rugby means to him, and he’s been on a journey throughout his career.

“He’s had some really good highs, some tough lows and he’s been going through some personal growth and development.

“The best testament I can give you is that he is still playing at the highest level and standing out.

“I’m really proud of him as his coach, and I know the club honour Jordy as they should, because he’s been an absolute champion for this club.

“Long may it continue.”