FROM the sublime to the ridiculous.

That’s the only way to describe the Huddersfield Giants after this most extraordinary of weeks.

Just eight days ago, the heroic Giants were riding the crest of a wave after beating Leeds at Headingley for the first time in 51 years to return to the top of the Super League XVI table

But a week later Huddersfield are being forced to pick up the pieces after producing by far their worst performance of the season to crumble to the Crusaders – the side at the bottom of the table!

Yes, in the clash between top and bottom, it was the strugglers who were by far the dominant side, just as Salford had been when the Giants suffered their worst moment of 2010 at the same time last season.

In every aspect the home side were the better side, raising questions as to whether this really was the same Huddersfield Giants who had destroyed Leeds with such ease.

Or was it, in fact, a shabby imitation of the side that was top, had the best defence in the competition and treated possession with so much respect?

Quite simply it was nothing short of embarrassing.

With the Giants caught up in heavy traffic on the M56, the kick-off was delayed by 10 minutes.

And they probably wished they had remained stuck there all day and night given the horrendous start they made to the contest.

Despite keeping changes to a minimum, with former Australia Test back-rower Luke O’Donnell and in-form fellow forward Dale Ferguson the only absentees from the side that secured the win at Leeds, Huddersfield were all at sea.

Despite the boost of having David Fa’alogo back in the starting line-up after missing the last four games with a leg injury, it made absolutely no difference whatsoever to the way they played.

Whatever way you look at it, the first half was awful, dreadful – the complete opposite of that dream night at Headingley, and the second half got no better.