WHAT a great night at Wigan!

We had been talking a good game in the build-up to our trip to the leaders, suggesting we were capable of mounting a serious challenge in the remaining games of the season and then taking some real momentum into the play-offs.

But it was action not words that was always going to be the key and, fortunately, we were able to back-up what we’d been saying with the performance to match.

And, as captain of Huddersfield Giants, I couldn’t have felt prouder.

Although Wigan put us under a tremendous amount of pressure, we showed we have the character and defensive resolve to hold them out and then hit back with three great tries to seal a fantastic win.

Thankfully, I was able to add all three conversions, and the fact it made all the difference in the world to the final outcome added to the pride I felt. I did feel I was striking the ball really well.

But that game’s gone now, and while it was an occasion to savour we know we can’t afford to rest on our laurels.

After producing such a solid performance at Wigan, the last thing we want to do now is take a backward step at home to Salford on Sunday.

The key this weekend is building on what we did at Wigan and making sure we improve in the areas that were far from perfect at the DW Stadium.

That’s what we’ve been working on in training this week, and if we don’t see those improvements against the City Reds this weekend, I don’t think the coaching staff will be too happy!

But we’re all confident things will go according to plan.

Personally, I know there’s more to come from myself. The game at Wigan was obviously my first after a month on the sidelines with a shoulder injury, and it’s good to report I came through unscathed after what was a very intense game, and I’m ready to build again for the rest of the season.

That’s something that can also be said of several of my teammates, too, and that has to bode well for the games that sill remain.

IT’S disappointing to have lost two of our main props through suspension as a consequence of the first-half brawl at Wigan.

Keith Mason is out for three weeks, while Darrell Griffin will miss Sunday’s game against Salford.

But the good thing about having a strong squad – as we now have at the Giants – is that we have the players capable of taking over and doing an excellent job. They are players we know won’t let us down.

And when it comes to prop cover, Graeme Horne has to be one of this season’s success story.

When he first arrived from Hull, I don’t think anyone – including Graeme himself! – ever imagined he would be playing in the front row, and making a successful fist of it at that.

However, we already know he’ll do a great job for us in the role on Sunday, which we’ll all be delighted about, not just because he’s such a valuable member of the squad but also because he’s such a likeable bloke, too.