NATHAN BROWN has backed Graeme Horne to respond positively to his costly late error in Friday’s last-gasp 21-20 defeat at Super League champions Leeds Rhinos and go on to be an even greater Giants force.

Horne’s last-minute spilt ball inside his own half paved the way for Kevin Sinfield to land the match-winning drop goal on the final play of the game to break Huddersfield hearts.

But Brown has made it clear no-one at the Giants is blaming in-form prop Horne for what happened, believing the support he has received from his teammates and coaching staff can help make the 25-year-old an even better player.

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“Graeme was really down with his finish to the game, and it was tough on him,” said Brown, who is still waiting to finalise the deal to bring former Australia Test back-rower Luke o’Donnell to the Galpharm.

“But no blame at all is being attached to him. For a start, it should never have got to that stage anyway, we should have finished the game off by them but just weren’t smart enough.

“Everyone knows that, and everyone’s been telling Graeme that.

“It’s cruel he came up with the drop at the end, particularly as it was the bloke’s best game for the club and he’s been building towards that for some time now.”