AS chief executive of the McAlpine Stadium, it was inevitable Ralph Rimmer's most memorable match would have taken place at the venue.

Yet the choice may take some by surprise.

Admittedly, it was quite an achievement for his Huddersfield Giants - Rimmer is, of course, also chief executive of the Super League club - to beat St Helens 36-22.

But in the mind of Rimmer it meant far more than simply pulling off the first major shock of last season's top-flight campaign.

"No-one expected us to win this match," reflected Rimmer, who is fresh from his much-publicised kick-boxing bout in Buxton.

"We'd lost our opening three games to Leeds, Wigan and Warrington, while the Saints had beaten Bradford by 40 and Castleford by 50!

"But the whole team played out of their skin and in the end we beat St Helens by quite a healthy margin.

"That in itself was something special.

"But the real significance of the win was that it started to change everyone's perception of Huddersfield Giants.

"Up until this moment, we were still regarded as the Super League whipping boys, the team that had finished bottom of the competition for four successive seasons.

"We were also a team that had never claimed the scalp of one of the so-called big four of Super League.

"That all changed last March.

"All the hard work that had been put in during pre-season following our promotion back into Super League was starting to pay.

"It was the moment we knew that, at last, we were starting to get it right.

"It gave us the platform on which to build for a bright 2003 and lay a firm foundation for this year.

"Results such as this are one of the main reasons why there's a fantastic buzz around the McAlpine Stadium right now.

"The Giants are in the top six in Super League and Town have just gained promotion back into Division II.

"As chief executive of the stadium, could I really ask for anything more?"