HUDDERSFIELD Giants paid a deserved high price for a first-half horror show that was truly shocking.

For a second successive week, the sluggish Giants started a contest in nightmarish style to send a shiver down the spines of all those who made the trip across to a bitterly cold JJB Stadium.

Against Warrington Wolves a week ago, Huddersfield allowed their opponents to build up a 10-0 lead inside the opening seven minutes.

On that occasion, coach Jon Sharp's side came back strongly and got away with it.

But five days later, they were not so fortunate.

Once again, the Giants conceded two tries in seven minutes, but this time they were unable to hold out their rivals for longer and went on to experience one of their shakiest Super League starts.

By the 32nd minute, the in-form Warriors had built up a 30-0 lead and were way out of sight.

That's when the Giants finally awoke from their deep slumber, and from that moment on they went on to dominate the encounter!

The character they showed in winning the second half 16-6 has to be applauded.

But obviously the damage had already been done, leaving the Giants to reflect on what might have been had they performed so much earlier.

Let's just hope Sharp and his men can come up with some quick answers as to why his side have been so lethargic early on.

If they do, there's no question Huddersfield will be a major Super League force.

If they don't, a long and hard struggle is on the cards.

But in last night's loss, let's also not forget the way Wigan played in that opening 40 minutes.

To be honest, some of their play was outstanding and head coach Ian Millward was unable to hide his delight at the way his side had performed.

"That first half was outstanding and some of the tries were a joy to see," was his conclusion.

But it was hardly joyful for the Giants.

By the third minute, Wigan had punctured the visitors' defence with a very simple score from full-back Chris Ashton.

And in the next 29 minutes, Kevin Brown, Harrison Hansen, Iafeta Paleaaesina and Brett Dallas also crossed for tries.

Danny Tickle landed all five of the conversions and it was 30-0.

Huddersfield finally made their mark a minute before the break when Chris Thorman's long pass enabled impressive substitute Chris Nero to power over in the corner.

But at that stage it was all about damage limitation.

Fortunately, it proved a totally different story in the second half as James Evans, Albert Torrens and Michael De Vere all crossed for scores, with Thorman and De Vere adding a goal apiece, to one solitary Wigan score from Wayne Godwin.

But obviously it was too little, too late.