Super League bottom side Huddersfield Giants have appointed Jim Lenihan as head coach following Luke Robinson’s sacking in March.
Robinson was dismissed on March 22 after Huddersfield lost all five of their opening Super League matches, with Liam Finn having taken charge of five more league fixtures since then.
Lenihan, who featured 21 times as a player for Huddersfield during the 1999 season, was most recently working as head coach for the Brisbane Tigers in his homeland, Australia.
A club statement said: “Huddersfield Giants are delighted to announce the appointment of Jim Lenihan as the club’s new head coach on a long-term contract.
“The former Gold Coast Titans assistant, and two-time Intrust Super Cup premiership-winning coach will link up with immediate effect, subject to visa clearances, with the appointment continuing the theme of change running through the new ‘Giants Unleashed’ era at the club.
“The Huddersfield Giants received some outstanding applications from candidates, but it was Lenihan’s vision for the club, which aligned with the club’s as we embark on this Unleashed journey, as being the perfect fit.”
The 52-year-old was most recently employed as head coach of the Brisbane Tigers, who play in the regional competition the Queensland Cup.
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Highlights of the Super League match between Huddersfield Giants and Warrington Wolves.
Before that, he worked as an assistant coach at NRL side Gold Coast Titans from 2019 to 2025, temporarily taking over as interim head coach in 2023.
Finn put himself in contention for the full-time role by winning his first two games in charge against Wigan and York, but heavy defeats followed against Leeds, Leigh and Warrington.
Former Hull FC boss John Cartwright has also been linked with Huddersfield following his controversial exit from his previous job in April.
Lenihan’s first match in charge will come at home to St Helens on Thursday 14 May, live on Sky Sports.
2026 Super League – key dates and what to look out for
- Super League in Paris:Sat Jun 6: Catalans Dragons v Wigan Warriors (Paris), 6.30pm UK (Sky Sports)
- Magic Weekend: July 4-July 5
- Rivals Round reversed:July 23-July 26
- Elimination Play-offs:September 19-September 20
- Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
- Grand Final:October 3, Old Trafford.
Sky Sports will again show every game of the Super League live this season – including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining five matches each week shown on Sky Sports+
