Huddersfield Giants let slip their fleeting hopes of a top eight finish in Super League with a 20-19 defeat at Hull KR.

Under the guidance of caretaker coach Andy Kelly and first team coach Chris Thorman, the Giants had hoped to mathematically keep their hopes of avoiding the Middle 8s alive, but the Giants let slip their lead in the second half.

“It is disappointing that our place in the Middle 8s has been confirmed,” said caretaker coach Kelly, who hands over the coaching reins to Thorman as he sets off for Australia in charge of the England Academy team.

“And it is even more disappointing that our fate was sealed in the manner it was at Hull KR.

“We have worked so hard to get ourselves in a winning position early in the second half, so to see us fall away as we did was incredibly tough to take.

“We went away from doing the good things that we had produced as a team in our recent Super League victories over Salford and Hull.”