GIANTS coach Jon Sharp was today anxiously waiting for news from both the treatment room and the Rugby League as he began the countdown to Sunday's trip to Bradford.

Huddersfield dropped a place to sixth in Super League after yesterday's 40-18 defeat at Wigan, who climbed to fifth.

Sharp was forced to leave full-back Paul Reilly out of his plans after an ankle problem picked up in training.

And he lost key man Paul March, who was playing at scrum half, to a calf injury after just 90 seconds.

Paul Smith was ruled out after an old shoulder injury flared during the warm-up, and his bench replacement, fellow forward Jon Grayshon, limped off with a shin injury.

To add to Sharp's concerns, both stand-off Stanley Gene and rugged second row Ben Roarty were put on report.

Gene's concession of a 57th-minute penalty for trampling on Adrian Lam cut short a spirited Giants fightback which reduced Wigan's lead to four points.

Sharp said he didn't see the incident clearly, but admitted: "It was the turning point.

"We were in possession and gave the penalty away, giving them the chance to score.

"We had worked so hard to get back into the game, and that really punished us."

Sharp added: "It was a tough game for us. We lost Paul Smith in the warm-up and one of our main ball players, Paul March, within two minutes.

"Given that I was proud of the way we worked so hard."