So its onto the 2nd game in our pre season and big eorl's testimonial game at the galpharm..

looking forward to this game, hopefully get to see grix and gilmour play for the first time in giants colours..
Nathan brown says he will leave it upto brett hodgson if he wants to play but i would rather see cudjoe play full back and give macgillvary a chance on the wing for this one.

dont think we will be seeing drew, wild, finnegan, brown, faalogo or kirmond due to injury or still recovering.

will be great to see super stanley gene back playing again (if he plays)

predict giants by 14 and a 3000 crowd

mason is injured too ( hernia op apparently). i also think that Whatuira had a hamstring so might not be rushed back

thats 8 'first teamers' prob not playing against fax then.. opportunities for other players to stake there claim.. especially horne and grix

patrick needs a big game otherwise ill be getting worried in the prop department if one of them gets injured

I'm also looking forward to this weather permitting. I think Fa'alogo is pencilled in for the Cas game for his debut. Brown should get a run out as he's going well in pre-season training but the rest are a fair way off playing yet.

I'd forgotten Stan the Man could be playing - bring it on.

Could? He will be playing, don't you worry about that.

Can you pay on the gate or do you have to get a ticket from a designated ticket office first?

Like the stupid setup at Leigh where there's one massive queue for a ticket yet all the stewards at the turnstiles were twiddling their thumbs.

I'd be very surprised if you couldn't pay on the gate. That's what I plan to do anyway.

FULL CIRCLE FOR CRABTREE AHEAD OF TESTIMONIAL

With his Testimonial game now less than a week away, Giants and England star Eorl Crabtree revealed his excitement and pride ahead of the Infirmary Cup derby clash against Halifax at the Galpharm Stadium on Sunday (3.00pm).

Crabtree has been rewarded for a decade of service in the claret and gold with a fixture against near neighbours Halifax, with both Nathan Brown and opposing Coach Matt Calland pledging to play full strength teams for the clash.

“It seems strange that I’ve been here ten years now – it’s a little surreal! I’m immensely looking forward to my testimonial game and a little bit nervous at the same time to be honest.

“It’s great that both clubs have committed to putting out full strength sides and I’d like to thank them for that. I’m sure that it’s going to be a proper derby clash and there’s something to play for in the Infirmary Cup which both sides will want to win.”

The fans favourite has kicked off his testimonial year with a number of events including The RL Factor, and admitted that having Halifax as the opponents for the game has it made it extra special – particularly as his first team debut came in the Infirmary Cup clash between the two sides in 2000!

“One of the biggest aims of my testimonial year is to make everything value for money, and I’m really pleased that we are playing Halifax as I think it is an attractive fixture for the fans. Halifax is particularly special for me too as there is a bit of history in my family with my Uncle Shirley (former Wrestling legend ‘Big Daddy’) and a lot of my family being from Halifax and my Grandfather actually played for them many years ago, so it promises to be a very special day for me and my family.

“My first team debut was against them in the Infirmary Cup the ten years ago, albeit for only five minutes at the end of the game but it was a very proud moment. I’m not even sure I touched the ball but I do remember tackling former Halifax star Martin Moana which was a very big thing for me at the time. Now it’s gone full circle, and I’m facing the same club in my testimonial feature which is very strange!”

Championship Grand Finalists Halifax have recruited strongly as they look to mount a strong challenge in 2010, adding Makali Aizue and former Giants favourite Stanley Gene to a squad that already packs plenty of Super League experience.

“I’m not sure whether or not Stanley is playing but it would be very special for me to see him running out onto the pitch, he was present when we did my first testimonial event in the RL Factor and he’s been a tremendous player and a great servant of the game for many years. They’ve built a very capable side at Halifax and I’m sure they will be there or there about at the top of the Championship at the end of the year.”

Tickets are priced at £13 for adults, £10 for concessions and £5 for under 16’s and supporters can pay on the turnstiles. The Direct Golf and Britannia Rescue Stands will be open for the game.

Weather forecast for the rest of the week looks dodgy.
It could cause a postponement.
Would it be replayed ????

hope the game goes ahead, going to try and make it............