Huddersfield Giants will look towards the rest of the Super League campaign determined not to suffer the same pain inflicted by their Challenge Cup exit again at Headingley.
The 48-16 reversal at Leeds Rhinos was both abrupt and unexpected, but the Giants – who are currently unbeaten in their last four Super League outings – were not seeking any excuses for their sixth-round departure from the knockout event as they saw the route to Wembley blocked at the first hurdle.
Skipper Danny Brough pulled no punches as he surveyed the defeat and said: “It was appalling and we got what we deserved for playing a bit soft from the start.
“The first half was really poor, but this is the Challenge Cup and you have to defend your line and we just didn’t do that.
“All credit to Leeds who played well, but the way we played we deserved to get hammered.”
The Giants still boast the best defence in Super League and will put that record on the line again away to Castleford Tigers on Thursday night (8pm), and Brough felt that Huddersfield must put the Leeds debacle behind them.
“We looked for a second-half fightback but we just didn’t get there,” he added.
“We were beaten by the better team and there can be no excuses on our part.
“We were atrocious, and if you don’t turn up then you are going to get battered.”
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