Ricky Leutele to return for Huddersfield Giants as Ian Watson provides recruitment update on replacement

Ricky Leutele is determined to leave Huddersfield Giants as a Super League champion. That's the message from coach Ian Watson ahead of the centre's return to action on Thursday.

The centre has missed almost two months of action with a knee injury but will make his return when the Giants host Castleford Tigers at the John Smith's Stadium.

Leutele will leave the club at the end of the season with Leigh Centurions and Catalans Dragons both understood to be keen on securing his signature. But Watson has no concerns that the former Cronulla Sharks ace will put his best foot forward as he seeks both team and individual honours.

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"He definitely will play," Watson said. "This was the game he was targeted for, it's really good for us that we've got him back on the timescale. Ricky coming back is at a good time for us. With the performance that was shown in the first half it's a no-brainer that he comes back in.

"Ricky is a really good guy, good to talk to. He's got a balanced view and he knows there's an opportunity there to be in a Grand Final. If you look at it from Ricky's point of view, he's won a Grand Final in the NRL, it would be awesome for his career to win a Grand Final in the UK as well. The opportunity is here at the minute, we're sat third and we want to make the most of that and we've spoken about that, getting to a final and winning one. He's in a really good frame of mind to lift a trophy with Huddersfield.

"Ricky is a big player for us and the big thing for him is if he gets to his performance levels from earlier on in the year. I'll go as far as saying he was the best centre in Super League and was going to be in