Let's just hope Thursday’s bitterly disappointing play-off exit at Warrington doesn’t take all the gloss off Huddersfield Giants' most successful League campaign for 81 years.

The Giants of 2013 suffered the heartache of a 30-22 defeat at the Halliwell Jones Stadium to miss out on a first Old Trafford Super League Grand Final appearance.

That will be the final memory of a season in which Huddersfield were crowned minor Super League XVIII champions and lifted the League Leaders Shield after winning 21 of their 27 League fixtures.

As well as coming within 80 minutes of a first Super League Grand Final and reaching the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup – and losing at mega bogey team  Warrington on both occasions – the Giants are also basking in the glory of picking up numerous individual  accolades.

Danny Brough, Shaun Lunt, Eorl Crabtree, Brett Ferres and Leroy Cudjoe in the Super League Dream Team
Danny Brough, Shaun Lunt, Eorl Crabtree, Brett Ferres and Leroy Cudjoe in the Super League Dream Team

For the first time Huddersfield had five players named in the Super League Dream Team in Danny Brough, Eorl Crabtree, Leroy Cudjoe, Brett Ferres and Shaun Lunt. The previous best was two in 2009 (Brett Hodgson and Scott Moore).

And Brough has also picked up the Albert Goldthorpe Medal for being the most consistent player in Super League and was this week named the RL Writers Association Player of the Year.

He is also shortlisted with Jamie Peacock and Sean O’Loughlin for the biggest individual prize of all – the Super League Man of Steel.

Danny Brough scores for the Huddersfield Giants
Danny Brough scores for the Huddersfield Giants

That award will be announced at the Man of Steel awards dinner on Monday night, when Paul Anderson is expected to be named Coach of the Year, while the Giants are in the frame for the Team of the Year.

But even if Huddersfield do miss out on Monday, 2013 will go down as one of the most memorable in the club’s glorious history.

Yes, winning next Saturday’s Grand Final would have been the icing on the cake.

But with the club so determined to build on this year and not stand still, why not wait until next year to visit the Theatre of Dreams instead!