Giants Academy 24 - 50 Penrith Panthers. IGNORE the result.

This was a wholehearted and spirited Giants Academy performance against the best junior rugby side in the world.

Penrith Panthers Under 18s arrived at the McAlpine having won numerous titles back in their native Australia, and on the back of the senior side having just been crowned NRL Champions following a Grand Final triumph over Sydney City Roosters.

And it was easy to see why they are rated so highly as their attacking prowess was a joy to behold and their defence was, in the main, out of the top drawer.

Yet it still couldn't prevent the Giants from rattling up 24 thoroughly deserved points to delight an excellent crowd of over 800.

They stunned their illustrious visitors by having the audacity to take a 12-6 lead after 11 minutes and by the 44th minute were just 24-18 adrift.

But the injuries to Super League squad men Rikki Sheriffe (who lasted a minute before suffering a bang to the shoulder) and Ben Feehan (carried off after 34 minutes with an ankle knock) eventually took their toll.

Fortunately, both players reported for training today, but the loss of two of the three full-timers in the squad - Phil Joseph was the other - clearly made the Giants' task even harder.

In their absence, however, the rest of the squad stood up to be counted, with prop Jason Southwell producing a massive effort to set up three of his side's four tries.

Penrith shot into a 6-0 lead in the fourth minute with a Keith Peters try and Mitch Heterick conversion.

But it wasn't long before Southwell was tearing through the heart of the Panthers' defence, first setting up Bolu Fagborun and then Danny Samuel for superbly-worked scores.

Tom Hemingway added both goals, and Huddersfield had a dream lead.

Yet by half-time, Penrith had found their feet, with Peter Wallace, John Nuumaalii, Charles Enosi and Jaye Marlitner all crossing for tries to make it 24-12.

The Australians increased that advantage after the break, with Heterick, Andrew Pearn, Lawrence Enosi and James Nightingale adding more tries.

But with the Giants doubling their tally with further tries from Tom Senior - to score the try of the game - and Jack Watson, they were able to come off the McAlpine pitch with heads held high.

Giants: Sheriffe; Fagborun, Feehan, Senior, George; Hemingway, Mennell; Southwell, Samuel, Mills, Gledhill, Holdsworth, Joseph. Subs: Sutherland, Watson, Robinson, Simpson, Hird.

Panthers: Daniela; Hawke, Forwood, Heterick, Annett; Wallace, Carl; Nuumaalii, Peters, Moors, Nightingale, Enosi (L), Rogers. Subs: Harden, Marlitner, Pearn, Enosi (C).

Referee: Russell Smith.

Attendance: 807.