InspirationalL Danny Brough almost single-handedly destroyed champions Leeds Rhinos as leaders Huddersfield made it three Headingley Super League wins on the trot.
The Giants captain made up for missing last week’s home horror show against Bradford through illness with a breathtaking individual performance to keep his side one points clear at the top after the opening six rounds
And it was also the perfect response to Brough’s surprise omission from the England elite training squad.
Just like last week, the Giants were forced to make late changes.
Against Bradford, Brough had to pull out at the last minute through illness.
And at Leeds, winger Jermaine McGillvary was forced to step aside with a back spasm and back-rower Jacob Fairbank was ill.
That meant 22-year-old Matty Dawson stepped up for just his second Super League appearance, having debuted in last season’s defeat at Warrington Wolves.
However, on this occasion, there was no nightmare start as the Giants forced the early pace.
The kicking of Brough was soon causing the home defence problems, with one typical effort forcing aseventh-minute Leeds drop-out.
Click below for a bumper gallery from the win at Headingley
In fact, it was 12 minutes before the host got anywhere near Huddersfield’s try line.
It was no surprise, therefore, when the Giants eventually took the lead after 17 error-strewn minutes in what were incredibly slippery conditions.
And, surprise, surprise, it came through a spilled ball.
Brough’s kick to the corner was fumbled by Joe Vickery under pressure from Aaron Murphy and Joe Wardle had the simple task of touching down , although too far out wide for Brough to convert.
Both teams continued to find the ball like a bar of soap, with the Rhinos finding it particularly difficult to keep hold of possession, and it was from another mistake that Huddersfield were able to double their lead.
Once again it was all down to Brough and his deadly-accurate boot, stabbing the ball ahead to perfection for Aaron Murphy to collect and stroll over for a second converted try in the left corner.
However, Leeds made sure they remained just a converted score behind their visitors at the break when Kevin Sinfield landed a penalty after the half-time hooter had sounded.
Leeds continued to make errors at the start of the second period, and from a scrum from another spill, the inspirational Brough again kicked through for Murphy to add his second. Unfortunately, the skipper failed to add the extras again.
But he quickly made amends by kicking a successful 40-20 moments later, which so nearly paved the way for Dawson to gather Scott Grix’s kick to the corner for try number four.
Kallum Watkins almost got the hosts back in the game when he went for the line but dropped the ball fractionally short.
But almost inevitably, Brough dugout his side and put them straight back on the front foot, launching a second 40-20 and then banging over a penalty from the subsequent attacking in the 52nd minute.
That made it 14-2, and a minute later it was 20-2 when David Faiumu kicked, chased and eventually re-gathered to feed the supporting Grix to finish off under the posts.
If that was a good try, the Giants’ fifth try was even better.
Brough’s pass on halfway sent Brett Ferres racing clear before slipping his marker and returning the ball to Brough to finish off under the posts and the half back then added the conversion to take the lead up to 24 points.
A rare spell of concerted Leeds pressure finally brought them some reward with 11 minutes remaining when Paul McShane plunged over from close range and Sinfield converted.
But Huddersfield wasted little time finding the perfect response as Brough again bewildered the Leeds defence to set up Eorl Crabtree to score.
Huddersfield Giants Under 16s produced a superb second-half show to score 22 unanswered points and secure a well-earned 32-14 Academy triumph over Bradford Bulls at the YMCA.
Tries from Oliver Bartle, Jordan Brown, Jordan Syme, Liam Johnson, Harry Redfearn and Matthew English, and two goals each from Will Gledhill and Sam Wood ensured the youngsters opened their season in the best possible fashion.
But the Under 19s suffered a 20-10 defeat at Leeds Rhinos.
The Giants' points came through tries from George Croisdale and Jake Connor, with Jack Miller adding a goal.
