Huddersfield Giants have signed Gold Coast Titans prop Jaimin Jolliffe on a three-year deal starting from the 2027 season, with the club calling the Ireland international their "first statement signing" for next year (Huddersfield Giants).

Jolliffe, 29, has not featured in the current NRL campaign after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in January — the ligament that stabilises the knee, and one of the most serious setbacks a rugby player can face. He is expected to complete his rehabilitation and be available by the time his Huddersfield contract begins (BBC Sport).

The signing is still subject to visa clearance, a standard requirement for overseas players joining a British club.

Jolliffe brings 102 NRL appearances to the John Smith's Stadium, with six tries to his name. He is also an Ireland international, giving Huddersfield a forward with both top-flight Australian experience and a heritage link that could prove useful on the international stage. Crucially, he has previously worked under a member of the Giants' coaching staff during his time at the Titans — a connection that likely smoothed the path for this deal (BBC Sport).

The arrival comes against a grim backdrop for Huddersfield. The Giants sit bottom of the 2026 Super League table, having lost 17 of their 19 games. In rugby league, the team finishing last faces the threat of relegation through the sport's licensing and promotion system, making every offseason acquisition a matter of survival as much as ambition.

For fans, the Jolliffe deal signals that the club is already planning a serious rebuild for 2027 rather than simply patching the current squad. A prop — the front-row forward who does the heavy lifting in scrums and tackles — is exactly the kind of durable, hard-carrying player a struggling side needs to establish a platform. Whether one signing can shift the tide at a club rooted to the foot of the table is another question entirely, but it is a clear marker of intent from a team that needs one.