So with a huge year ahead, we want to know - who would make your ideal squad? Assuming a fully fit side, with no injuries and no suspensions (ha, I know), who is your strongest 17?
If you've already got your squad locked in, you can Click Here to pick your team and share it with the world using our interactive tool. If you're still undecided, you can find a quick breakdown of our options, and some of the big selection questions below!
The Backs
With some significant changes for a second year running, Giants fans will be hoping to see a little more pace and cohesion in our back line in 2024. On the wings, new signing Adam Swift has big shoes to fill taking McGillvary's vacant #2 shirt, while Elliot Wallis showed enough promise in preseason that he'll no doubt be on Watson's radar as a potential starting winger. Sam Halsall and Kevin Naiqama were our standout backs last year, while Jake Bibby and Esan Marsters have retained their starting squad numbers, but it remains to be seen who will make the final cut when our first squad is announced on Friday night
The Spine
If there's one spine player that seems certain to feature in our 2024 plans it's Adam Clune. The Australian halfback is a direct replacement for Theo Fages and will be tasked with leading us around the field and putting his kicking game to good use. As for who joins him, that's up for debate. Jake Connor and Tui Lolohea struggled with fitness issues in 2023 but - so far - look to be faring far better this season. If we assume they both play - which one of them plays fullback and which one plays stand-off is maybe less clear. Plus, we can't discount Oliver Russell in all of this, Rusty is absolutely good enough to be a starting half and if anyone finds themselves underperforming, he'll no doubt be pushing his way into the starting line-up.
The big question at spine is at hooker, with Adam Milner, Thomas Deakin and Ashton Golding all putting their hand up to round out the spine. This really could be the most important pick of the squad, and whoever gets the call will have a huge job on their hands to bring back some of the spark and speed we lost with Danny Levi.
The Forwards
Almost certainly the hardest part of the team to pick. Given that forwards tend to make up the bulk of the bench, even if you're happy with your starting pack, choosing only 4 of the remaining players (or 3, if we assume an interchange hooker) is a really tough call. We've got some huge props who'll be expecting game time in Chris Hill, Joe Greenwood, Matty English, Oliver Wilson, Sebastine Ikahihifo and Hugo Salabio. Greenwood and English can also feature at loose forward, though Luke Yates, Harry Rushton and (based on his preseason positioning) Leroy Cudjoe will be tough competition there. In the back row, new signings Jack Murchie and Andre Savelio are bolstered by the likes of Sam Hewitt, Harvey Livett, Cudjoe, Rushton and Greenwood. And that is to say nothing of the quality young forwards yet to establish themselves as first team regulars, who we can surely expect to feature as the year goes on
Your Squad
So the question remains - who makes your squad? Click below to pick your team and share it with the world!
