JUST how do the Huddersfield Giants expect to maintain a Super League XVII title challenge with performances – and results – like this?
Losing at Catalan Dragons and then at home to Wigan is one thing.
But to falter on neutral territory against a lower half side such as Salford is another.
Admittedly, the City Reds played exceptionally well and were full value for their win on their day. They do have quality players for sure.
But questions really do need to be asked about Huddersfield after a day like this. There was certainly nothing ‘magic’ about the Giants’ efforts at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium as part of the Magic Weekend.
It’s possible the shock news of Kevin Brown’s departure to Widnes at the end of the season could have played a part as much as everything else and contributed to this disjointed display.
Yet that obviously can’t be the only reason, of course, with the Giants struggling to respect possession at key times and then producing defensive show that was so much out of character. Well, until the last few weeks that is!
And the signs were certainly ominous from the start.
The out-of-sorts Giants made the shakiest of starts to the contest and were 6-0 down within three minutes as the City Reds kept the ball alive superbly down their left for Joel Moon to finish in the corner and for Daniel Holdworth to land the touchline conversion.
But for the next 15 minutes it was all Huddersfield.
Within three minutes the Giants had struck for the first time when strong approach work, with Danny Brough to the fore, created the opening for Brown to plunge over from acting half-back from 5m, although Brough was unable to add the extras.
Huddersfield should have scored five minutes later, but Joe Wardle’s pass to Luke George went behind the winger and a golden chance had gone begging.
But there was to be no denying them in the 13th minute when Brown released Wardle, who combined with George to send the supporting Brough over under the posts for a converted score to make it 10-6.
At that stage, the Giants looked firmly in the driving seat – although not for long.
With the City Reds eager to keep the ball alive at every opportunity, Moon quickly followed up to score his second and in the 26th minute Sean Gleeson charged over on the opposite side to hand Salford a 16-10 advantage.
And four minutes before the break they deservedly extended their lead when they elected to run a penalty rather than go for goal and swept the ball out to the left again for Jodie Broughton to finish in the corner.
Holdsworth’s excellent touchline strike made the lead 12.
But with six seconds of the half remaining, Huddersfield finally came back into life when Scott Grix’s short pass close to the line sent Michael Lawrence charging over and Brough converted to make it 22-16 at the break.
The Giants – and David Fa’alogo, in particular – started the second half strongly, with Wardle almost through from deep and then Leroy Cudjoe put through to ‘score’ only to be denied by referee Tim Roby, who gave his side a penalty instead!
Brough then broke clear, but instead of passing to the supporting Lawrence for a clear run, fed Luke Robinson who was easily trapped.
But seconds later they weren’t to be denied as Robinson fed Eorl Crabtree to power over from close range.
Brough’s goal levelled the scores.
Straight from the restart, David Faiumu made 50m upfield and a couple of plays later, Crabtree was charging over again after Grix kept the ball alive and Brough added the extras.
Salford recovered well to force the Giants to drop-out twice in relatively short succession and only a great last-ditch tackle by Cudjoe denied Moon a hat-trick.
But there was no stopping the City Reds in the 60th minute when Moon out in Broughton for his second, which Holdsworth failed to convert.
Then five minutes later and after Huddersfield had again been penalised deep inside Salford territory, the City Reds regained the lead when Adam Sidlow stretched out to score from close range for Holdsworth to goal.
The Giants then had a massive escape when Matty Ashurst spilled the ball over the tryline after the inspirational Luke Patten somehow kept the ball in play when it looked to be going dead.
And a minute later, they made the most of their misfortune when Scott Moore marked his first start since re-joining the Giants by shooting through a gap from acting half and feeding the supporting Brough to add his second try and fifth goal.
But from the restart, Salford regained possession and on the sixth tackle, Sidlow took everyone by surprise to crash over for Holdsworth to add his fifth goal and seal the unlikeliest of wins.
