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Super League: Huddersfield Giants coach Paul Anderson keen to kickstart season at Leeds

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - APRIL 21:  Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson during the Super League match between Huddersfield Giants and Wakefield Wildcats at Joh
Image: Paul Anderson: Targets victory over Leeds Rhinos

Huddersfield Giants head coach Paul Anderson is determined to kickstart their Super League season by beating Leeds at Headingley on Thursday, live on Sky.

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Anderson's side have lost their opening two games of the season but head into the clash confident of maintaining their impressive record at the Rhinos.

Anderson told Sky Sports News HQ: "We've not had the start we wanted which is disappointing because we're renowned for our starts. We just have to hope things switch around this year.

"We've got to make sure we keep hold of the ball because we've given ourselves too much to do. If you look at the Wigan game, we dropped the ball over the line five times. Wigan made some fundamental errors too.

"That's what we've got to do - make sure we get our completion rate up, our tackle completion up as well.

"There are no big secrets in rugby league. The team that wins is normally the teams that tackle and complete sets. There are things there for us to work at.

"I watched Leeds in two games in pre-season and they played very quick. The back three get them on the front foot.

"We've been very patient these last few years. You've got to build your game and take a lesson off what South Sydney did."

In an effort to refresh his side for the season ahead, Anderson has ordered former Wigan and England scrum-half Luke Robinson miss the trip to Leeds

The 30-year-old has missed only five games in the last two seasons, and will be replaced by Kyle Wood who has recovered from major knee surgery.

"Robbo is carrying a few knocks and before round one his wife gave birth to another kid," Anderson said.

"He's got three kids all under the age of three and, when he came in, you wanted to put his head on a pillow, he was that tired.

"In hindsight, he probably shouldn't have played in one or two of the games because of the fatigue.

"Robbo is a little warrior and he'll keep training and he'll keep playing but it all starts to mount up. 

"We're just trying to look after him."

Chris Bailey makes way for the return of Michael Lawrence who, alongside Wood and full-back Scott Grix, played for Oldham in a pre-season friendly at Barrow on Sunday to gain match fitness after sitting out the first two rounds of Super League.

Grix is being kept out of the Huddersfield team by 20-year-old Jake Connor, who retains his spot after impressing in their 24-16 defeat at Wigan a fortnight ago.

Watch Leeds Rhinos v Huddersfield Giants, Thursday 8pm, Sky Sports 3

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