Giants downsized by Warriors

Huddersfield Giants 12-32 Wigan Warriors 

A superb display in professional rugby earned Wigan Warriors a 32-12 win over title challengers Huddersfield, schooling the new pretenders at the Galpharm. LS Sport’s Joseph Short reports…

Two second-half tries from George Carmont spearheaded a deadening display that brings back a shed of reality into the Giants’ fantastic season opening.

Greg Eden pulled Huddersfield level early in the second half, but his missed catch five minutes later let Carmont touch down, sapping the life out of the home side.

A masterclass display of back-line command from Sam Tomkins maintained Wigan course, with three more tries for no reply seeing out victory.

Wigan move two points clear at the top of the Super League with the win over second-place Giants, and the display served as a reminder that there is still plenty to do at the Galpharm before success is achieved.

A huge hit in the first half saw David Faiumu stagger off the field

Huddersfield’s sterling start to the season came under fire when key players came off injured, exposing a weak depth to a squad with glinting title aspirations.

A huge hit in the first half saw David Faiumu stagger off the field and down to the changing rooms, and the blow was doubly hurt by the hole left in the centre of Huddersfield’s defence.

The Giants had been controlling up to that point, having taken the lead when Jermaine McGillvary rounded off a magnificent move down the right flank. However, with Faiumu – who was orchestrating much of the centre play – off the pitch, Wigan were given chance to advance on each tackle with no real block in place.

Tomkins gave Wigan the lead soon after the substitution, slipping his man on the right wing to touch down in front of a baying away crowd.

Things went from bad to worse for Huddersfield in the second half, with McGillvary –  their only real attacking threat – breaking his nose in a desperate collision with team-mate Leroy Cudjoe.

Giants proved they still have work to do if they are going to challenge the big guys this season

McGillvary’s retirement meant the Giants had no outlet, Wigan forcing them into high kicks to nowhere from the 40-yard line. The away side, meanwhile, pounced on their chance, proving why they are top of the league with a clinical display of touchdowns.

Over 10,000 fans were attracted to the spectacle of a top-of-the-table clash, yet Giants proved they still have work to do if they are going to challenge the big guys this season.

Although second in the league, into the semi finals of the Challenge Cup and having already scalped Leeds Rhinos and St. Helens this season, the enormity of a trophy-challenging season is slowly dawning.

Scott Grix and Eden were solid in the middle, indeed combining to bring the Giants level. But Wigan’s sheer experience in clinical professionalism exposed the gap between old hat and young pretender, the latter still with a lot to do if they are to cap off Nathan Brown’s era at the club.

Photo: Ben Sutherland