Betfred Super League 2025: Burgess looking to inspire Robinson’s Huddersfield revolution

Huddersfield Giants’ recruitment of England front-rower Tom Burgess is arguably one of the biggest headlines going into the 2025 Betfred Super League season, with the West Yorkshire outfit desperate to get back to the play-offs after what can best be described as a ‘transitional’ campaign in 2024.

The Giants ended last year in ninth after a long struggle to get involved in the play-off picture, with a mid-season run of seven defeats in eight costing Ian Watson his job as head coach after three-and-a-half years. 

Under his replacement Luke Robinson, Fartown will be looking to kick on this term, and former South Sydney Rabbitohs star Burgess is ready to lend his vast experience to the cause.

“I’m the type to lead by example, and try to do the right thing and bring players together,” the 32-year-old tells Betfred. “I’ve learned throughout my career how to do that, and how important it is in successful teams to have a close, tight-knit group.

“That’s one thing I want to do, and try to instil some of my experience on some of the younger players if I can.”

A 2014 NRL Grand Final winner with the Rabbitohs, Burgess adds that there will be no absolutely coasting from him in his first season back in the European game since leaving Bradford Bulls in 2012.

“For me, it was more about the opportunity to come and help the team to improve. I wanted to come over and do something over here, not just make up the numbers. I saw a squad here at Huddersfield with potential.”

Rookie head coach Robinson has lost a number of experienced players ahead of 2025, but beside the addition of Burgess and fellow newcomers including Zac Woolford, Jacob Gagai, George King and Liam Sutcliffe, the Giants have also been able to retain Tonga international half-back Tui Lolohea.

“I’m excited. Another season is coming my way, I think it’s my 12th one now, so I feel like I’ve been around a long time,” says the Leeds Rhinos and Salford Red Devils stand-off. “But I’m still motivated, still keen to go out there and perform, and hopefully win some silverware. That’s obviously a big goal of mine.

“We’ve got Luke as the new head coach, we’ve got a couple of new strength and conditioning coaches, and some new players. So it’s almost like we’re… not starting again, but we’ve obviously got a lot of new people in so it’s baby steps.

“I think Luke’s done a great job, with a lot of coaching, a lot of teaching. We’ve got a lot of young players in our squad, and it’s been a good pre-season so far.”

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New hooker Woolford is familiar with the environment at Huddersfield even as a new face to Super League, with his father Simon having coached the Giants between 2018 and 2020. And he explains to Betfred that dad was keen that he join the Robinson revolution at the John Smith’s Stadium.

“He thought that I would benefit under someone like Robbo, and so far he’s been spot-on,” says the 28-year-old former Canberra Raiders number nine. “He thought Robbo would be really good for me and my development, and that’s proven right so far.

“Training has been really competitive, everyone’s trying to earn their shirt, and that can only lead to good things. Hoperfully we can get to round one with everyone healthy and we can change the perception of our club.”

That opening round sees the Giants host Sam Burgess’ Warrington Wolves, with prop Tom facing his big brother, who starts his second season as the Wire’s head coach. That game is on Sunday, February 16, with Huddersfield heading to Hunslet seven days earlier for a Betfred Challenge Cup third-round fixture.

The Giants are 25/1 to win the cup at Wembley three years on from being pipped in the final by a late Liam Marshall try for the Wigan Warriors. They can be backed at 5/2 to return to the play-offs in 2025 for only the second time in seven seasons.

Adam Swift, who scored a sensational 17 tries in just 13 appearances in 2024 before injury curtailed his campaign in May, is an 18/1 shot to finish the regular season as Super League’s top tryscorer.

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