JERMAINE McGillvary knows more than most this is Huddersfield’s chance to make an impact, in his hometown as much as anywhere else.
And he believes the way rugby league has clubs chasing dreams and risking it all has seen him go from playing in front of big attendances to turning up to tumbleweed – 6,000 crowds and having the John Smith’s Stadium roughly a quarter full are considered good.
The veteran winger grabbed the try of the game as the Giants booked their first Challenge Cup final in 13 years with ease by beating Hull KR 25-4.
Now with Huddersfield Town potentially playing at Wembley in the Championship play-offs the day after the Giants face Wigan at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, this is time to make a splash, at home and outside the area.
Huddersfield have tried everything to attract bigger gates but nothing seems to have worked – McGillvary believes the way the game is structured is why empty seats dominate.
He said: “When I first started out at the Giants, I remember getting a big home crowd for Leeds, it was crazy.
“But Super League as a whole isn’t what it used to be. When I came through, the quality of player and match experience was better.
“As a player, I’d walk into games and it used to be a carnival atmosphere. Sometimes now, I walk in and I’d see tumbleweed going past!
“The days of licensing helped as clubs weren’t afraid of relegation, they were throwing some top youngsters in but now as there’s a chance of relegation, some clubs think, ‘We’ll go for experience rather than the youngster.’
“That’s something that needs addressing. I don’t believe that under the current system I’d have made it. I was terrible when I started but I had time as licensing was around and it gave me an opportunity.
“Now there are 18-year-olds around who are probably better than I was at that age but they can’t get that opportunity because clubs are too scared of being relegated.
“Attendances have gone down over the last decade but something like this could help get the next generation. Being in big games and winning trophies help, especially when kids are watching TV.
“They want to follow the top teams, that’s why they have the biggest support. When kids see us in big games, more may aspire to be like the players and potentially join us if they’re good enough.
“So this could help the grassroots too and give quality young kids a platform to play on. Hopefully the football gets behind us too, especially if they make the play-off final.”
Josh Jones, Innes Senior and Owen Trout also touched down as Huddersfield boss Ian Watson sealed his second Challenge Cup final with two clubs in three seasons.
Hull KR never turned up and only got on the scoreboard when Shaun Kenny Dowall touched down.
Not that 33-year-old McGillvary, who saw Oliver Russell kick four goals, cared as he looks to experience what those he watched against Warrington went through.
He added: “I remember our last Challenge Cup final and heading down with the reserve team boys, stopping at service stations and how rammed they were.
“The noise they made was amazing and if we can replicate something like that, it would be awesome.
“Me just stood in the crowd watching, it was so good.”
