Huddersfield Giants Under 19s are this week looking to pick up the pieces after suffering a bitterly-disappointing 16-6 home Academy defeat to Bradford Bulls.
The sixth-placed hosts should have been too strong for bottom-of-the-table Bradford.
But no-one had told the Bulls as they stunned their hosts and put added pressure on the Giants to hit back at home to top-four team Wigan Warriors at Laund Hill next Monday.
It was a performance that didn’t go down well with Academy coach Chris Thorman, who will be demanding a positive response.
“I thought we had enough ball and field position to win the game,” said Thorman.
“But the disappointing thing was that we were dumb, we didn’t ask enough questions.
“We didn’t play. Our defence was all right, although we got a bit loose, possibly because we had a few lads out with the first team or through injury.
“But it’s my job to have 25 players ready to play at this level, so we can’t have that as an excuse.”
The Giants, who were well led by England Youth captain Liam Johnson, did lead 6-4 at half-time with a try and conversion from Super League squad half-back Jack Miller.
But they were unable to add to their tally in the second half to leave the visitors celebrating just a fifth victory of the season.
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