Brett Hodgson column: Not playing can be painful

May 7 2010 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Brett Hodgson

WATCHING the boys in action against Wigan on TV last weekend proved a pretty uncomfortable experience.

I thought the boys played really well for 60 minutes and showed why we’re one of the top sides in the competition.

But obviously it was that 20 minutes at the start of the second half that really killed us.

It was a classic case of what happens if you make mistakes against a top side. There’s only going to be one outcome – you’re going to concede tries.

Wigan are an excellent side, they have good defensive technique and structure, as well as a clinical attacking edge and, unfortunately, they showed all those qualities against us.

But while it proved a disappointing defeat, this loss hasn’t exactly set the alarm bells ringing.

If we’d played well for the full 80 minutes and lost the game, that would have been a worry.

However, in this game, it was fairly obvious where we went wrong, and we all know these problems can be resolved if we put in the work. That’s what we’re doing now.

Hopefully, that will pay off in time for tomorrow’s big Challenge Cup game at home to Warrington Wolves.

As a group, we’re all well aware how this game is being seen as our chance to gain revenge for our Cup final defeat to Warrington last year, but we don’t actually see it like that ourselves.

For us, it’s more of a case of trying to right the wrongs of last week and make sure there’s no repeat against Warrington, who are, of course, another quality side, as the Super League table shows.

We’re confident that can be achieved, whatever side takes to the field.

I’d obviously like that side to include me, although it’s still more than likely I’ll have to wait at least another week to return from my thigh injury.

I’m very encouraged with the improvement I’m making and, thankfully, it seems the initial view that I could be out for at least a month may have been a little extreme.

I am, of course, happy to go along with whatever our coaching and medical staff have to say.

At the end of the day, I’ll do whatever everyone thinks is best for Huddersfield Giants.