DANNY BROUGH and Luke George stole the show for the Huddersfield Giants to seal a thrilling and nail-biting 17-16 Super League XVII triumph over St Helens.

Huddersfield-born winger George was on hand to secure a second hattrick in three Galpharm appearances, while inspirational scrum half Brough once again pulled all the attacking strings to get his side out of jail.

The talismanic half-back did it at London Broncos a week ago, and he repeated the dose against the shell-shocked Saints to keep the Giants in the leading pack.

And his most notable contribution had to be creation of George’s third score, as he set up a stunning length-of-the-field try and added the conversion to help seal the outcome.

It was a six points worthy of winning any match, with the final outcome remaining in the balance right until the final play of the game.

In the first half there was little to separate what were two evenly-matched sides, with St Helens fortunate to lead 12-4 after receiving some generous key calls.

But in the opening quarter, the Giants just about shaded it.

After some great early defence against a determined Saints who were clearly desperate to erase the memory of last week’s thrilling last-second defeat at the hands of Catalan Dragons, the home side eventually got their reward after 17 minutes.

That came on the back of some excellent approach play, with the influential Danny Brough, Leroy Cudjoe and Jermaine McGillvary to the fore.

After McGillvary had been illegally held down on the Saints’ 20 following a strong surge, the ball was whipped out to the left for Luke George to squeeze in at the corner from 10m, although too wide for Brough to add the conversion.

As the game progressed, however, the visitors began to become more of a threat.

Their opening score came after 28 minutes after they had forced the Giants into repeat sets close to their line.

After initially holding strong, the weight of the pressure eventually told as the ball was worked out for Lee Gaskell to plunge over for a try, converted by Jonny Lomax – although much to the anger of the home fans, who felt the Saints man had dropped the ball as he crossed the line.

But the claret and gold faithful were even more furious three minutes later after seeing their team concede a really controversial score, which had started in the initial stages of the build-up.

First of all, Joe Wardle was adjudged to have played at a Saints kick on the sixth, which instead had hit him full in the face and forced him to leave the field!

Then from the subsequent set, Lomas collected the ball on the sixth tackle 10 metres out and grubber-kicked into the in-goal area.

The covering Cudjoe waited for the ball to go dead, but Lomax pounced, got a touch and the try was awarded.

To say the natives were restless was an understatement!

The Giants players were also far from happy, believing Lomax’s shoulder was over the line before he’d scored.

Fortunately, Huddersfield didn’t let it affect the way they played.

For the rest of the half, they were the dominant force and carried on from where they left off at the start of the second, striking for a second time within five minutes of restart.

After initially forcing a Saints error, the ball was worked to the left for Brown to take play to the line and feed Michael Lawrence, who immediately put George over for his second.

Brough add a magnificent touchline conversion, and the Giants were right back in it.

The scrum half failed to level the scores midway through the half with a 40m penalty after the visitors had twice been guilty of high shots in as many minutes.

But Brough’s next contribution was far more spectacular as he played the starring role in an early candidate for try of the season.

With St Helens pressing on the Giants line, Brough gathered a kick-through on the sixth tackle.

Quick as a flash, he shot through the slightest of gaps and turn on the pace to make it to halfway.

He then launched a long pass to the supporting Scott Grix, who made further ground before releasing George to step past the covering Tom Makinson and finish off and complete his hat trick.

To add to the excitement, Brough’s conversion hit both posts and the crossbar before going over to make it 16-12 with 15 minutes remaining.

A Brough drop goal moments later edged his side a further point ahead.

But when Ade Gardner dived over in the corner in the 73rd minute, St Helens again had the chance to win the contest.

Thankfully, for Huddersfield, Lomax failed to land the touchline conversion and they still had the lead.

In a thrilling finale, the visitors threw everything at the home side’s line.

But Nathan Brown’s men were not to be denied.