Match report: Huddersfield Giants 48 - 16 Wigan

Sep 14 2009 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

GIANTS FINISH IN REAL STYLE

SUPER Huddersfield Giants produced a champagne display in their final home game of the regular season to destroy Wigan and finish in a superb third place.

That now sets up a trip to face St Helens in their opening play-off clash on Saturday.

And if coach Nathan Brown’s men can carry on from where they left off against the Warriors, there’s no reason whatsoever why the Giants can’t go there and win.

Despite lacking several senior players in the likes of Kevin Brown, Jamahl Lolesi, Danny Kirmond, Simon Finnigan, Keith Mason and Scott Moore, the home side were in a different class.

With the forwards once again laying a rock-solid platform from the start, Wigan spent almost the entire game on the back foot.

And the Huddersfield backs simply lapped it up, with the likes of Brett Hodgson and Leroy Cudjoe having an absolute field day.

By the end of a highly memorable 80 minutes, which proved beyond doubt the Giants have got their Wembley Challenge Cup final disappointment out of their system, Hodgson had helped himself to the opening try and a perfect goalkicking display, while Cudjoe celebrated a stunning second-half hat trick.

And the home side couldn’t have got off to a much better start as they took the lead after eight minutes.

The foundations for the opener were laid two minutes earlier when Danny Sculthorpe’s fantastic offload in the tackle on halfway sent Brett Hodgson racing clear.

He was eventually halted 15m short, but with Wigan holding him down, Huddersfield were awarded the penalty. Instead of going for goal, the Giants went for the tap and the decision paid off as the position was created for Luke Robinson’s long pass to find his captain to dummy his way over from close range.

Hodgson added his own conversion and the home side were looking in good shape.

Wigan hit back when Mark Flanagan powered over from close range in the corner four minutes later.

But that just made Huddersfield step up another gear as they began to take complete control.

Although nothing came from a 40-20 Brett Hodgson kick in the 16th minute, it was the start of the hosts turning the screw.

And after the Warriors had twice been forced to drop-out from under their own posts, the Giants grabbed their second try after 27 minutes.

Paul Whatuira’s excellent work in the corner made it possible, with his smart pass out of the tackle sending David Hodgson racing away and stepping inside full-back Cameron Phelps to finish under the posts.

Hodgson again goaled and was doing the same just four minutes later when Shaun Lunt showed remarkable strength to touch the ball down over the line despite the presence of a number of Wigan defenders.