Huddersfield Giants chief Paul Anderson has revealed he showed loyalty to Aaron Murphy in picking him ahead of new winger Jodie Broughton for the opening-night Super League triumph at Wigan Warriors.

Murphy, Broughton, Jermaine McGillvary and Ben Blackmore are involved in a four-way fight for the two Huddersfield wings spots on offer at the start of 2014.

Murphy and McGillvary, who scored a hat-trick in Friday’s superb 24-8 triumph at the DW Stadium, got the initial nod as the Giants began the defence of their Super League Leaders’ Shield in the best possible fashion.

But Anderson has made it clear the pecking order could change as the season progresses, having explained to all of his wide men exactly why Murphy and McGillvary were the first to have the chance to stake a regular claim.

“Who plays on the wing is one of the tough calls we’re having to make,” said Anderson.

“We’ve now got four good wingers who are more than capable of doing a good job for us at Super League level. Jerry and Aaron showed that against Wigan, and I know Jodie and Ben will do just as well when they get their chance.

“It was a tough call for the opener, and I know one or two might have expected Jodie to have got the nod over Aaron.

“But one of the reasons we went for Aaron was out of loyalty. He’s a very good player and was great for us all last season when we finished top.

“Jodie was obviously made well aware of that fact, and he knows his time will come and what we expect from him in the future. He’s got at least four years here, so he knows it really is just a matter of time.

“In the case of Ben, it’s just a case of being patient.

“He’s already developing into a winger with a huge amount of potential. It’s just a lack of experience in some of the bigger games that’s holding him back at the moment.”

Super League chief executive Nigel Wood has congratulated Wigan Warriors and Huddersfield Giants for their “outstanding” efforts in getting the 2014 First Utility Super League season off to a memorable start on Friday.

Huddersfield, the 2013 League Leaders, completed a 24-8 victory over the defending champions in front of a crowd of over 16,000 people at the DW Stadium, a match watched by a bumper audience on Sky Sports.

Early indications suggest that the viewing figures were among the highest for an opening fixture since Super League began, and Wood believes that all points to the new season being the most compelling of all time.

“I would like to congratulate both Wigan and Huddersfield for the outstanding quality of the rugby league they produced on Friday night,” said Wood. “The sense of anticipation ahead of a season which followed the hugely successful Rugby League World Cup had never been greater and the Warriors and Giants delivered in every way.”