Huddersfield Giants head coach Ian Watson has been named May’s Betfred Coach of the Month.
With just two rounds of Betfred Super League action taking place in May, Watson won the award ahead of several notable contenders. In doing so, he becomes the fourth different coach to win the award this season, as well as being named Coach of the Month for the first time since taking over at the Giants in 2021.
This most recent milestone emphasises the continuous improvements at Huddersfield under Watson, with the Giants currently occupying fourth spot in Betfred Super League. Watson’s transformation at Huddersfield has slowly built momentum after a tough start to his time in charge and the club are now beginning to reap the rewards.
Watson began the month with a win against Wigan Warriors after both sides secured their place in the Challenge Cup Final a week earlier. Despite changes to his playing squad, Watson’s side showed no signs of rustiness and laid down a significant marker in the top four.
The Giants ended the month of May in Super League with a hard-fought comeback win against a resurgent Toulouse just a week before their trip to Tottenham. Trailing by 10 points in the second half, Ian Watson’s side battled their way back into the contest to overturn the French side and consolidate their position in the top four.
On receiving the accolade Watson said: "This is a reward for all the performance staff and players. I see this as a team award as it’s a collective effort as a team.
"The performance staff have worked tirelessly at getting and keeping the squad fit to make sure they're ready for the challenges faced. the players have been outstanding at doing their roles and jobs individually and as a team.
"As a collective, we're committed to all round success and pleased to see that recognition of the hard-work we've put in over the last month and will look to continue putting in over the rest of the season."
