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Rugby League

Thorman: Board should get some credit

11/09/2007

Chris Thorman has said the Huddersfield Giants' board should receive some of the plaudits for the club's qualification for the Super League play-offs after they stood by coach Jon Sharp in the early part of the season.

The Giants captain said the players never lost faith in their coach, despite a mass clamouring from the fans for Sharp's dismissal following a disastrous start.

A fifth defeat in the opening seven games, to now-relegated Salford City Reds, left them five points adrift at the foot of the table and the bookies' favourites for relegation.

But with one game left the Giants have already secured a passage into the post-season, and may yet finish as high as fourth, and Thorman admitted that he had a conversation with Sharp during the team's lowest ebb.

"After the Salford game I had a long conversation on the phone with Jon, who was saying he didn't know what was going to happen," the newly-converted full-back said.

"I basically just said to him, 'whatever happens, I've got your back. I'm your captain and I know the rest of the boys will always be there for you'."

Thorman also said he was grateful to the board for listening to the players' views on the matter and sticking with Sharp, despite many pundits and fans alike believing he was not the right man for the job.

"I'm just so pleased that the board and [chairman] Ken Davy did show a little bit of faith in Jon because he's proved he's the right man for the job," he said.

"I know Jon Sharp would never quit because that's not the type of person he is.

"But, no matter how strong you are as an individual, you still need your friends and colleagues to tell you that you're doing the right thing and to stick at it. I know a few of the other players spoke to him during that difficult spell."

Huddersfield play Hull KR on Saturday in their final match of the regular season before embarking on the first play-off run in the club's Super League history.