Huddersfield prides itself on being ‘the birthplace of rugby league’, yet success for the town’s Betfred Super League club has proven fleeting since those halcyon early decades of what was then called the Northern Union.
Although Huddersfield Giants won the League Leaders’ Shield 11 years ago, they have not been crowned champions since lifting the title on the last of seven occasions in 1962. Betfred Challenge Cup success has proven equally elusive since 1953, despite reaching the final three times this century.
Ashton Golding is determined to help rewrite history. Although hailing from 21 miles up the M62 in Leeds, the 27-year-old has found a home away from home at the John Smith’s Stadium and is eyeing repaying the Giants’ faith after handing him a three-year contract extension in the off-season.
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“I am a Leeds boy, I was born and bred in Leeds, and I will probably stay in Leeds for the rest of my life, but Huddersfield has really captured my heart and imagination of what things could look like and the glory I could help give a team,” Golding, now entering his fifth season with the club, told Sky Sports.
“I want to repay them with everything I have got, whether it is the last step I can take on a rugby field or lifting a piece of silverware, I want to repay with everything I have got the faith they have shown in me.
“The town that founded the sport surely deserves some glory at some point and I want to be part of that story.
“It would be one of the greatest stories to come out of rugby league in a long time, the birthplace finally getting what it deserves.”
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Huddersfield, who kick off their 2024 Super League campaign away to Leigh Leopards on Friday, enjoyed one of their best seasons in recent years in 2022 when Ian Watson’s side reached the Challenge Cup final, losing out to Wigan Warriors after a late try from Liam Marshall, and finished third in Super League.
But last year saw them unable to follow that up as they finished ninth and suffered an early Cup exit, hampered by many of the squad, including Golding, not being fully rested during the off-season after playing in the previous year’s Rugby League World Cup along with other factors.
“When you have a taste of success it breeds pressure and there was definite pressure there to perform last year and, unfortunately, we didn’t handle the pressure well enough,” Golding, who was limited to just eight appearances in 2023 due to injury, said.
“Whether that is lack of being used to being in those positions, but as a group, we understood that it was disappointing and what we are asking for.
It would be one of the greatest stories to come out of rugby league in a long time, the birthplace finally getting what it deserves.
“We want the pressure, we want to play under pressure, and last year is a distant memory for us as a playing group, as a club, especially looking forward to this Friday’s game against Leigh.”
It has been a winter of changes for the Giants as well. Homegrown talent Will Pryce has departed for NRL club Newcastle Knights, Theo Fages has returned to France to play for Catalans Dragons, while experienced players like prolific try-scorer Jermaine McGillvary, Chris McQueen and Nathan Peats have either been allowed to leave or retired.
The signings of hooker Thomas Deakin, second row Jack Murchie and scrum-half Adam Clune from NRL clubs, along with bringing in Andre Savelio and Adam Swift from Hull FC, have gone a long way to offsetting those departures, while Golding has taken on a different role in recent years too.
Primarily a full-back during his time with Leeds Rhinos, Golding has transitioned into more of a utility role at Huddersfield with the presence of Tui Lolohea and Jake Connor in the squad and it is one he is happy to take on having done so to a limited extent under Brian McDermott at Leeds.
Huddersfield head coach Ian Watson has utilised Ashton Golding’s versatility
“While personally, I have my own aspirations and goals as a valued player of rugby league, you understand as a team sport you have to do what is good for the team,” Golding, who has often been deployed off the interchange bench as a hooker or loose forward with the Giants, said.
“I understand what I can do for the team playing in a multitude of positions. Being quite versatile, it adds some strings to your bow.
“It probably takes away from your personal goals but as a team collective, I want to be the guy that the boys depend on.
“I want them to know I will bring a whole heap of energy and enthusiasm and I have got everyone’s backs.”
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Friday’s trip to Leigh pitches the Giants against a team which ended a half-century wait for Challenge Cup glory in 2023 and qualified for the play-offs, and Golding has seen plenty to believe Huddersfield could be celebrating winning a major honour again soon.
He has been impressed with the expansion of the work the club are doing in the community to build the fanbase and inspire a new generation, and sees no reason that progress will be followed on the field in the coming seasons.
“There is a lot going on behind the scenes at Huddersfield Giants that gives me a lot of hope that at some point there is going to be sustained success at this club,” Golding said. “I want to be part of that journey. I believe it is all about the narrative.
“If you gave me a trophy now, I would decline it because I haven’t earned that right to be the champion.
“But if you can give me a journey, a story of how we got that, I can sell you a story all day and I would love to carry the trophy after that.”
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Watch Huddersfield Giants away to Leigh Leopards in their 2024 Betfred Super League season opener live on Sky Sports Mix on Friday, February 16 (8pm kick-off). Also stream contract-free with NOW.