What a massive shame for Huddersfield Giants as they were beaten 28-24 at Leeds Rhinos.

It may now be three defeats from three Super League XX starts.

But coach Paul Anderson’s brave battlers came count themselves extremely unlucky they didn’t break their duck at Leeds Rhinos and make it five straight wins at Headingley in the process.

Apart from a nightmare opening 25 minutes when they found themselves 18-0 down, the Giants had the measure of their hosts, eventually losing out to a Paul Aiton try with six minutes remaining.

On another day, it could so easily have gone Huddersfield’s way.

And judging by the way the Giants are continuing to improve, they should be firm favourites to get off the mark at home to Widnes next Friday.

After 25 minutes the signs were looking ominous.

With Leeds dominating the opening exchanges, both in terms of the possession and territory, the Rhinos stormed into an 18-0 lead.

The first two tries came on the back of the Giants conceding soft penalties, with Carl Ablett and Adam Cuthbertson taking full advantage to crash through some poor defence.

And with Kevin Sinfield landing both conversions, the Rhinos were firmly in the driving seat with a 12-point lead after 23 minutes.

The battle became even harder for Huddersfield just two minutes later when Joel Moon broke on halfway and fed Ryan Hall to finish strongly in the corner. Sinfield converted, and it wasn’t looking good.

But the Giants then awoke from their slumber to dominate the rest of the half. On the half hour they struck for the first time when Jamie Ellis collected 15 metres out, dummied, twisted and then barged over for a fine individual try.

Danny Brough converted and followed up with a second seven minutes later when Joe Wardle plunged over from Shaun Lunt’s short ball close to the line.

At 18-12, it was definitely game back on.

Unfortunately, it was a classic case of the break coming at just the wrong time for the Giants as the break halted the visitors’ momentum and returned it to their hosts, who struck within a minute of the restart.

Stevie Ward’s break from deep gave Tom Briscoe a walk-in in the corner and the Rhinos were 10 points ahead.

Jermaine McGillvary came agonisingly close to reducing the deficit on the hour mark when video referee James Child ruled he was fractionally in touch before putting the ball down.

Great defence from Jake Connor then denied Mitch Achurch minutes later before the Giants went straight down the other end for Leroy Cudjoe to kick through and Kyle Wood to mark his six-month return to Super League action following a knee injury by collecting to score.

Brough’s conversion made it 22-18 and the game was again back in the melting pot.

And in the 68th minute they were ahead for the first time when Brough’s pass sent Brett Ferres crashing over for a fourth converted try.

It was now 24-22 to the Giants.

But with six minutes remaining, Leeds found the perfect response when Paul Aiton finished off and Sinfield goaled, although whether Leeds should have been awarded a scrum to put the hosts in that position in the first place has to be questioned.

As it was, that proved to be the killer blow.