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Giants to end speculation and start push for play-offs

Dave Hadfield
Saturday 16 August 2008 00:00 BST
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Huddersfield will put an end to guessing games when they make what their chairman has called "an historic announcement" at half-time in tonight's Super League game against the Catalan Dragons.

Suggestions have veered from the signing of Darren Lockyer or Ruben Wiki to letting all supporters in free next season – as the Giants are doing today – but, after the big build-up, it is to be hoped it is not a damp squib.

Huddersfield could still catch Bradford and make the top six for the play-offs. They have David Faiumu making his home debut, while the Catalans welcome back another Kiwi, Alex Chan. The Bulls, trying to keep their noses in front, have two influential players, Paul Deacon and David Solomona, back in their squad against Hull, whose season-long injury problems continue, with Garreth Carvell, Danny Tickle and Adam Dykes all missing out.

Better news for the Cup finalists is the return of their full-back, Motu Tony, after a 15-match absence with knee ligament trouble.

The leaders, St Helens, have Willie Talau back at Harlequins, but the outward-bound Paul Sculthorpe is still out with a hamstring strain. Saints have re-signed their Australian centre, Matt Gidley, for another season.

Quins, another side with a theoretical chance of making the play-offs, are still without Mark McLinden, who has signed to play rugby union for the Queensland Reds after the end of this season.

The Warrington coach, James Lowes, has named the same squad that lost unluckily by a single point to Saints last week for the visit of Hull KR. Paul Cooke could start for Rovers after reappearing as a substitute last week after being left out for breaches of club discipline.

In National League 1, Leigh play what could be their last game at Hilton Park, their home for 61 years, when Whitehaven visit tomorrow. Leigh could still have a home play-off game before departing for the town's new Sporting Village, but their final regular season match will be a nostalgic occasion, with numerous heroes from the past in attendance.

Their assistant coach and former player, Paul Rowley, said: "It's the last league game at Hilton Park so there's lots of significance to it but we know Whitehaven will want to spoil the party. It's a massive day for the spectators and everyone associated with the club but we've got to get the players to try to react as though it's business as usual."

Sonny Bill Williams, who ran out on the remaining four and a half years of his contract with Canterbury to play rugby union in France, has been reported in Australia to have agreed a A$750,000 (£347,779) deal with the club to buy himself out.

The club had served an injunction on Williams after his debut for Toulon in a friendly last weekend, barring him from playing again, but they now appear willing to cut their losses.

Leigh Centurions will bid an emotional farewell to Hilton Park tomorrow in their final home game of the regular Co-operative National League One season against Whitehaven.

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