HOW ON earth can Huddersfield GIants hope to reach the Super League Grand Final if they play like this?
Admittedly, they were away to the in-form Minor champions Warrington who boast the best attack and defence in the competition.
But the manner of this opening play-off defeat when Huddersfield were embarrassingly second best in every single facet of the game does raise serious questions about how much the Giants have left in the tank.
Even if they were to win their home play-off elimination clash against either Leeds Rhinos, Catalan Dragons or Hull KR next weekend, they face the very real prospect of having to return to the Halliwell Jones Stadium again the following week in a bid to reach Old Trafford for the first time.
And psychologically that’s a massive ask given the demoralising events of last night.
The opening exchanges did offer some promise as the Giants gave as good as they got for the opening eight minutes.
But on the back of a 5-1 against penalty count as referee Steve Ganson looked determined to make his presence felt, it wasn’t long before the Wolves were making their visitors pay big time.
Within seconds of penalty number five Warrington opened their account as the ball was moved to the left for former Giants academy man Chris Bridge to send a long pass out to winger Chris Riley to finish superbly in the corner.
Bridge converted and Huddersfield’s hopes of repelling Warrington’s now famous explosive start had been dashed.
But it was unfortunately a taste of what was to come as the Wolves powered to a thoroughly deserved 25-0 interval lead as the Giants were savagely ripped apart.
Four minutes after the opening try the home side were over again as Giants full back Scott Grix was adjudged to have knocked on at the play-the-ball and within moments the ball had been worked out wide for former Giants skipper Brett Hodgson to grubber kick through for Bridge to touch down, although it was too far out for him to add the extras this time around.
Bridge, however, made no mistake with his third attempt in the 19th minutes when Joel Monaghan crossed in the corner just after the Giants had conceded penalty number eight.
And two minutes later Warrington had reached the point a minute mark when Richie Myler’s great break cut the visitors’ defence wide open and Riley was on hand to collect and turn the covering defence inside out to touchdown in the corner.
It was another 11 minutes before Tony Smith’s men struck for a fifth time as Ryan Atkins’ midfield charge created the position for Simon Grix to send Matt King over.
With Bridge taking a well earned breather, Lee Briers failed to add the goal but slotted over a drop goal just before half-time to leave the Giants needing to score five times to stand any hope of securing a miracle play-off fightback.
But Huddersfield’s task became even tougher within five minutes of the restart after Scott Grix was sent to the sin-bin for holding down Myler after scrum half’s break from deep.
Warrington took full advantage as they swept forward and winger Monaghan notched his second try just moments after being denied by the video referee.
Briers touchline conversion extended the home side’s advantage to 31 unanswered points and the contest was already well and truly over.
But there was still more misery to come.
By the 52nd minute the home side’s try tally was up to seven as Hodgson crossed and on the hour Myler kicked ahead a loose ball and touched down and that was followed up by Briers as he converted and he took his side over beyond the 40 point mark.
The beleaguered Giants fans showed they had not lost their sense of humour by embarking on a conga line around the away area of the stands, but it was merely a little light relief on a depressing evening.
Lee Gilmour almost gave Giants fans something to shout about with eight minutes remaining but he was held up over the line by Warrington’s defence.
Almost inevitably, the Wolves found the perfect riposte as they went straight to the other end and Atkins was on hand to charge in for another try and show they will be the team to beat in 2011.
