Just what is it going to take for the Huddersfield Giants to beat the Wolves?

After a hugely encouraging opening 40 minutes when Huddersfield deservedly led 14-4, a first win over Warrington in the last 10 meetings looked distinctly on the cards.

But then Warringtonitis struck again big time, and it was almost impossible to bear.

From being 10 points to the good in the 45th minute, the Giants finished badly beaten after conceding 29 unanswered second-half point.

Their fall from grace after the interval was simply unbelievable.

It didn’t help that referee James Child gave all the 50-50 calls one way, which meant the Giants were forced to spend almost all of that horror second period on the back foot.

But that still doesn’t excuse the last capitulation as the Giants fell to pieces, especially after they had made such a morale-boosting start.

Within minutes it was obvious this wasn’t the same Giants side that under-performed so badly in the South of France eight days earlier.

They looked hungrier on attack and more eager in defence as they got the better of the opening exchanges.

After surviving an early scare when Jodie Broughton was forced to produce a magnificent take of a high ball in the corner, Huddersfield began to gain control, deservedly taking the lead after eight minutes.

The returning Shaun Lunt fed Eorl Crabtree, who drew in a couple of defenders before releasing Ukuma Ta’ai to race away at considerable pace.

He then found the supporting Scott Grix to finish off in style. Danny Brough converted, and the Giants were seemingly on their way.

The hosts were unlucky not to extend their lead when Grix was denied his second midway through the half after two rampaging runs from substitute Antonio Kaufusi.

At the other end, the busy Grix produced a superb try scoring tackle to deny Stefan Ratchford and was then held back when following up a Brough grubber following Jermaine McGillvary’s outstanding break from deep.

Brough did add the subsequent penalty to make it 8-0.

But when Warrington crossed for their opener through Rhys Evans six minutes before the break, it looked like such a promising opening period could end in frustration.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case – with ‘fortunate’ being the key word.

Three minutes later, the Giants allowed a ‘bomb’ to bounced inside their own 20.

But it fell perfectly to Brough to race clear and feed the supporting Broughton to score under the posts and make it 14-4 at the break.

Broughton almost extend his side’s lead three minutes after the restart, but was denied by a solid Matty Russell cover tackle.

Richard Myler struck back just two minutes with the simplest of scores moments later and Ratchford converted to reduced the lead to four.

That came after the concession of a Giants’ penalty, and with referee James Child being very generous towards the visitors, Huddersfield were forced to defend their own line with their lives.

They did that brilliantly until the pressure finally told in the 64th minute and with the second-half penalty county inexplicably standing at 5-0, when Ben Westwood charged over for the Wolves’ third try to level the scores at 14-14.

To add to the Giants’ woes, Leroy Cudjoe was forced to leave the field with a leg injury moments later, and things were looking precarious.

And with nine minutes remaining, Warrington hit the front for the first time when the home side needlessly squandered possession on halfway and moments later Matty Russell was making them pay with a try under the posts, converted by Chris Bridge.

Ratchford followed up with a drop goal to give his side a seven-point lead two minutes later to leave Huddersfield needing to score twice.

That lead became even bigger in the 75th minute when Brough’s kick-off failed to go 10m and from the subsequent penalty, Gene Ormsby crossed in the corner.

And with two minutes the misery was completed when Joel Monaghan raced in at the opposite corner after more slack Huddersfield midfield play.

It was an awful finish to an awful second half.

Click here for more Huddersfield Giants news

Want to read, watch and hear more? You can download the FREE Examiner Apple App here, the FREE Examiner Android App here or you can view the paper as an e-edition on your Apple, Android or Kindle device by clicking here

Want the latest Huddersfield Giants news? Follow our Giants news Twitter here