'It's me as a player' - Golding happy as Giants' man for all positions

In any team sport, the ‘utility player’ tag is one that can often be seen as little more than a backhanded compliment.

Try telling that to Ashton Golding though. Although he made his name as full-back, the 25-year-old has embraced a new role with Huddersfield Giants in 2022 which has seen him filling a variety of positions off the interchange bench.

The emergence of Tui Lolohea, currently joint-top with Jai Field in the Betfred Super League's Man of Steel standings, as the Giants' full-back this season would have otherwise kept Golding on the sidelines. Yet he could not be happier about being asked to fill multiple positions when needed.

"I love it," Golding, now in his third season at Huddersfield, told Sky Sports. "You see things more from a different perspective, so you get a little bit more of an understanding why people make certain decisions.

"So, when you play against them, you understand why the hooker is thinking that and understanding what you can do to make him think. You can manipulate other players on the opposition because you've played there, so it's kind of handy playing every position.

"It's difficult in prep and probably makes my training a little harder because you don't know, you can only play in one place, so you have to prep for four positions each week.

"But it's great, I love it. It's me as a player; I'm an athlete, I'm a rugby player and it kind of works in tandem in that respect."

Golding is not the only player in Super League to have relished playing in multiple positions. Stefan Ratchford's ability to play in just about any position on the field has been highly prized by Warrington Wolves during his 10 years with the club, while up-and-coming St Helens star Jack Welsby took on multiple roles