IT may not have been pretty and it may not have been flash.
But this still has to rated as one of the Giants' most notable Super League victories.
Reduced to 12 men after just 15 minutes following Paul Reilly's dismissal for elbowing and in a contest was played in 90-degree heat, Huddersfield were forced to call on all their reserves of energy, character, grit and determination to pull off a ninth win of the season.
It's also a win that keeps them within striking distance of the top six with eight games remaining.
And if they do manage to reach the play-offs, they can look back on this win as being crucial to that objective being achieved.
There were times during this encounter when Leigh threatened to make their extra man count, and in such high temperatures that would hardly have been the most demanding task in the world.
But may be the Centurions hadn't counted on the way the Giants were prepared to battle for each other as if their lives depended on it.
There was a sense that this was going to be their day, and nothing was going to stop them.
Huddersfield were obviously firm favourites going into the game, with bottom club Leigh (two wins and a draw so far) already regarded as relegated by many.
But Reilly's early dismissal ensured that the contest was played on a knife edge, with both teams fancying their chances of going on to win.
And in the final analysis it was the boot of Chris Thorman that made all the difference.
The acting Giants captain made sure Leigh paid the full price for their lack of discipline by banging over six penalties to ensure his side always had their noses in front.
Furthermore, the extra time Thorman spent lining up kicks also enabled his teammates to re-charge their batteries ready for the next assault by Leigh's full complement of players.
In the end it worked a treat.
But given the start the Giants made to the contest, few would have thought that Thorman's boot would have proved so vital.
With just 87 seconds on the clock, Huddersfield opened their account as the impressive James Evans capitalised on some quality work by man-of-the-match Thorman to crash over out wide.
Thorman was unable to convert, but landed a penalty eight minutes later following good work from Brad Drew, and even at such an early stage it appeared the Giants were in complete control.
Yet moments after Paul March had almost cut through from deep to score try No2 in the 14th minute, the whole complexion of the contest altered.
As Leigh centre Danny Halliwell kicked ahead, Reilly was ruled to have used the elbow to halt his opponent's progress and was immediately shown the red card.
It was just the lift Leigh needed and within three minutes the Giants' lead was down to 6-4 as Phil Jones landed two penalties.
All of a sudden, the game was perfectly poised.
Fortunately, as the half wore on, Huddersfield began to re-group.
Nerves were settled with a second Thorman penalty before the stand-off stepped over for a superb solo try after 29 minutes after Drew had elected to take a tap penalty right under the Leigh posts.
Thorman converted and then slotted over a 37th-minute penalty to make it 16-4.
But a minute before the break, the Centurions made the most of their numerical advantage by creating a gap for Mike Govin to race 50m to score.
Jones' goal made it 16-10 at the break, and within a minute of the restart he had further reduced the deficit to four points.
But the Giants were let off the hook four minutes later when Oliver Wilkes was sin-binned for holding down - something Leigh did all game.
Within a minute of Wilkes' departure, Paul White released Jon Grayshon to score a try which Thorman failed to convert.
But with the Giants' half-back following up with three successful penalties on the trot, the home side were 26-12 ahead going into the final quarter.
That should have provided a comfortable enough cushion - but it didn't.
In the 64th minute Steve Maden raced half the length of the field to score an unconverted try in the corner.
And then in the 72nd minute John Wilshere sliced through and Jones converted to make it 26-22.
It seemed obvious the next score for either side would seal the contest.
Fortunately, it was to go the home side's way.
As the game entered the 79th minute, Leigh made one final attempt to force the overlap and race clear for the matchwinner.
When Wilkes received the ball, he had two quick men on his outside.
But he hadn't seen Hefin O'Hare hovering, and the Welsh winger gleefully intercepted and raced 45m to score a converted try under the posts.
Victory had gone to the Giants, in the most dramatic fashion.
* Huddersfield's Junior Academy side produced a fantastic fightback to beat Leeds Rhinos 33-32 in a thrilling clash at Laund Hill.
Full details tomorrow.
