GEORGE Flanagan Jr may have made his name at Huddersfield in 2025, but the foundations of his break-out were laid with Hunslet.
The 21-year-old fullback’s emergence was one of the few bright spots for the Giants last year as they finished 10th, ending the campaign with 10 tries and five assists in 25 appearances, and picking up the Wagstaff Trophy from the club’s supporters.
The spark for that, however, was a 13-game loan spell in the unforgiving environment of League One with Hunslet the previous year at a time where it may have felt to Flanagan like his career was hitting a wall.
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“Hunslet was massive for me, getting out there and getting some exposure,” Flanagan, who made his professional debut for Bradford Bulls as a 17-year-old and was soon snapped up by the Giants from the start of 2024, told Rugbyleaguehub.com.
“When I made my debut for Bradford, I only played a couple of games and then I was back to square one waiting for an opportunity. When I went to Hunslet, that kind of set me off and I really enjoyed my time there.
“Hunslet was a big kick for me, that’s where it all took off, and I’ve got my opportunity and want to take it with both hands.
“It’s a lot slower, but sometimes it’s just as tough as Super League. You really find that out when you’re playing League One and Championship – it’s definitely a lot tougher than people may think.”
That first exposure to the professional game with the Bulls against London Broncos in July 2022 not only saw Flanagan score a try, but also play alongside his father George Sr.
Still plying his trade as a hooker with Keighley Cougars at the age of 39 and now in his 17th year as a professional player, the elder George has naturally been a big influence on his son’s rugby league career.
“I’ve been around it my whole life and I used to go training with my dad,” Flanagan said.
“I wanted to be around rugby all the time and I took that into when I was playing first team and being around dressing rooms.
“My dad was probably the biggest character in them, so I already know what it is – he comes home and says it all himself. I think I’ve found it easy with my dad.
“This is what I love doing and I want to be successful so I’ve got to keep myself on the right track and right path. Dad tells me all the time, so that’s what I need to do.”
Another big admirer of his is Huddersfield head coach Luke Robinson, who awarded Flanagan a new contract to the end of the 2027 season in April last year.
A 52-6 win away to former club Hunslet in the Challenge Cup third round last Friday, which saw the former Birkenshaw Blue Dogs junior score a try and kick five goals, got the 2026 season off to a positive start as well.
The Giants face a much stiffer test in their Super League opener on Friday when they head to Perpignan to face Catalans Dragons (6pm UK time), and despite ongoing uncertainty over the club’s long-term stadium situation, Flanagan is optimistic the West Yorkshire club can change the defeatist attitude of the critics towards them.
“It’s a fresh start, it’s a fresh year and Huddersfield are on the up at the minute with everything they’re doing behind the scenes,” Flanagan said.
“We’ve got to repay it and show it on the field.
“We want to change the narrative of everyone putting Huddersfield down at the moment.
“No one ever gives us a chance, but we want to prove them wrong.”
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