Many were expecting Huddersfield Giants to steamroll Wakefield Trinity tonight.
The Giants are seen as one of the main contenders to the Super League title and St Helens. They lost last week against the high flying Warrington Wolves but finished strongly in what was their first game of the season.
They were also taking on a Wakefield team who had conceded 60 points last week against Wigan Warriors. The controversy surrounding the pitch at Wakefield likely didn’t help either side and in the first half there were no tries.
Huddersfield had a few early chances but Wakefield defended well.
The Giants showed again that they are a great side at creating pressure forcing a goal line drop out but not converting the chance. In 2022, no side forced as many goal line drop outs as the Giants but it didn’t always yield points and it was the same again tonight.
The Giants themselves defended well when Wakefield attacked with the Giants at one stage forcing Eddie Battye into an error as they attacked.
At halftime it was 0-0.
Early in the second half Theo Fages was hit late providing Tui Lolohea with the chance to give the Giants a 2-0 lead which he did.
15 minutes later just shy of the hour mark finally the first try came as Joe Greenwood forced his way over with Lolohea converting to make it 8-0.
Wakefield had a chance when Jay Pitts went on a great run but it didn’t yield a try.
The win won’t be the most impressive one that the Giants record all season but it was much needed for Ian Watson’s men who can now officially mark their season as started.
As for Wakefield they sit bottom of the table on three losses from three alongside Castleford Tigers, a far from ideal start for Mark Applegarth in his new role.