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George to stay with Hull KR

Huddersfield Giants have agreed to allow threequarter Luke George to continue his loan spell at Hull KR.

George has played the last three Super League matches for Rovers, scoring his first tries for them in Sunday's 44-18 win over Wakefield, which brought to an end his initial loan spell.

"We're going to go week by week for now," said Giants coach Paul Anderson.

George will play in Saturday's Hull derby at the Magic Weekend but can be recalled by his parent club at a week's notice.

Meanwhile, Anderson has confirmed that second rower Jacob Fairbank, who is on loan to Bradford, is free to play against the Giants at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Cudjoe avoids ban

Huddersfield Giants' England centre Leroy Cudjoe has been cleared to make his 50th consecutive appearance for the Giants at Widnes on Friday after avoiding suspension.

Cudjoe was charged with a grade A offence of punching during his side's 24-8 Challenge Cup fifth-round win over the Leeds Rhinos last Saturday but was able to submit an early-guilty plea and avoid a ban.

But Cudjoe's co-centre Joe Wardle has been handed a two-match ban after submitting an early-guilty plea following his sending-off against the Rhinos.

Wardle was sent off for the first time in his career and charged with a grade C offence.

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Rugby League: Wakefield 16-18 Huddersfield

Winger Jermaine McGillvary's hat-trick enabled Huddersfield to stay top of Super League, but only a disallowed try in the last minute ensured they retained their 100% record.

The Wildcats trailed throughout the match but, after coming from 18-8 down to cut the deficit to two points, thought they had snatched victory when centre Lee Smith went over for a try, only to have it disallowed for a forward pass.

Huddersfield, who gave a debut to former Widnes forward Anthony Mullally, were generally the more impressive side but could never shake off their gritty opponents in a tense, scrappy affair at the Rapid Solicitors Stadium.

Giants on look out for O'Donnell's replacement

Luke O'Donnell
Luke O'Donnell Credit: ITV Yorkshire

Huddersfield Giants coach Paul Anderson has begun the search for a replacement for Australian forward Luke O'Donnell, who was today released by mutual agreement.

The 32-year-old former Kangaroo international had another 12 months left on his initial three-year contract with the Giants but will return home on Friday and is expected to join Sydney Roosters.

"We're throwing names around at the minute," said Anderson. "What it does is free up fair amount of salary-cap space. We're going through the process of seeing what's the best thing for us. Do we want to bring someone else in like for like or do we want to strengthen other areas? "

O'Donnell made just 23 appearances in his first two injury-hit seasons.

Lunt returns to the Giants

Shaun Lunt - who won the Grand Final with the Leeds Rhinos earlier this month - is to return to the Huddersfield Giants.

The 25-year-old hooker spent most of the season on loan at Headingley after losing his starting place with Huddersfield, but the Giants have now offloaded two other frontline hookers, and they say it's Lunt's own decision to go back to the John Smiths Stadium.

Huddersfield Giants' new signing

Huddersfield have signed Castleford winger Ben Blackmore, who made his Super

League debut in the Tigers' last match of the season against Hull a fortnight

ago.

The 6ft 2in, 19-year-old Blackmore has signed a 12-month contract with the

Giants and will join fellow newcomers Anthony Mullally and Ukuma Ta'ai for the

start of pre-season training in November.

"Ben is physically very promising with good speed," said Huddersfield coach

Paul Anderson.

"He is very hungry to grab the opportunity we are giving him and, alongside

Matty Dawson, will really challenge the more established outside backs next

year."

– Paul Anderson, Huddersfield coach

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Giants swoop for Mullally

Anthony Mullally
Anthony Mullally Credit: Press Association

Huddersfield have signed 21-year-old Widnes forward Anthony Mullally on a three-year deal. The Giants have paid an undisclosed transfer fee for the 6ft 5in prop, who spent last year with Brisbane Broncos' feeder club before returning in time for the Vikings' return to Stobart Super League.

Giants managing director Richard Thewlis said: "Anthony was identified a long time back by us as being a prodigious talent and the year in Australia confirmed that from the reports we received." Mullally will link up with Huddersfield in November for the start of pre-season training.

Giants sack head coach

Nathan Brown
Nathan Brown Credit: ITV Yorkshire

Nathan Brown has been sacked by the Huddersfield Giants - less than 24 hours after the club lost its Challenge Cup semi-final to Warrington.

He'll be replaced by his assistant Paul Anderson.

Brown was leaving anyway at the end of the season to take over at St Helens, but after yesterday's 33-6 defeat he told reporters he was hoping to see out the rest of the campaign at the Galpharm.

The Giants were top of Super League when his move to St Helens was confirmed, but since then they've lost eight of their last nine league games and have plummeted to seventh in the table.

A heavy defeat at Castleford the previous weekend was especially damaging, with Brown accusing some of his players of not trying.

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