HUDDERSFIELD Giants are the first winners of the Carnegie Floodlit Nines!
The Giants stormed to victory with a final triumph over Hull FC at Headingley after securing earlier wins over fellow Super League sides Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR.
Star of the show was Leroy Cudjoe, who was named player of the tournament after finishing with four stunning tries.
That was, in fact, more than the Giants conceded in the entire competition, with just three tries being scored against them in all three rounds.
Huddersfield went into the event as red-hot favourites, fielding the strongest squad in the competition.
And the move paid off as the Giants secured their first piece of silverware since lifting the Northern Ford Premiership Trophy in 2002 which booked their place back in Super League.
Three of Cudjoe’s tries were scored in the final against Hull as the Giants took the honours 20-4.
Both of his first-half scores – it’s just seven-and-a-half minutes each way – came after linking up well with Michael Lawrence, with Luke Robinson successful with one of the drop-goal conversions as the Giants led 10-4 at the break. Ashley Thackray replied for FC.
Cudjoe then completed his hat trick before Rod Jensen marked his final appearance for the club by sending in Stuart Jones with the final play of the tournament.
The Giants opened the competition just as strongly with a 32-4 triumph over hosts Leeds.
They led 16-0 at the break thanks to tries from Danny Kirmond, Lawrence and Jensen and two Chris Thorman drop-goal conversions.
And in the second half, Cudjoe, Stephen Wild and Robinson crossed for further scores, with Kallum Watkins grabbing a consolation.
Hull KR were the Giants’ next victims, going down 22-6 in the semi-final.
Robinson and Lawrence crossed to give Huddersfield a 10-0 interval lead before Jermaine McGillvary and Wild wrapped the game up ahead of a last-second consolation from Liam Welham.
