Huddersfield Giants bring Wakefield Trinity back down to earth with resounding win

The battle to stay in Super League has has life breathed into of late given the resurgence in form for Wakefield Trinity and they travelled to the John Smith’s Stadium tonight to face Huddersfield in a huge clash.

Trinity looked dead and buried for the majority of the season losing their first 14 games in the league before finally recording victory over Leeds Rhinos at Belle Vue.

Since that win Mark Applegarth’s men have won a further two including victory last week over Wigan Warriors in a thrilling golden point clash, with mid-season signing Will Dagger’s boot proving vital to the victory.

Their hosts tonight, Huddersfield, also won last week with an impressive win in France over top of the table Catalans Dragons.

That perhaps wouldn’t be an unexpected result based on pre-season expectations but Ian Watson’s men have had a torrid time of it this year, sinking far below their third-placed finish last year and languishing in the bottom half.

The Giants currently sit 10th, closer in points to Trinity in 12th than to the play-off spots, with a victory for the travelling side having true potential to thrust the Giants into a relegation scrap.

As such the circumstances this was a huge game and the faithful at Belle Vue knew as they took over an away record of over 800 fans, a wholly impressive figure given the wet and rainy Friday night fixture slot.

Key man Will Dagger was presumably the first name on the team-sheet and this time he was joined by the returning Mason Lino in the halves, with the powerful three overseas signings of Kevin Proctor, Renouf Atoni and club legend David Fifita providing punch from the bench.

📋Your Trinity side to face the Huddersfield Giants this evening. Mason Lino makes his return.

🤝@WDHcarelink pic.twitter.com/dp2aXJV5Mw

— Wakefield Trinity (@WTrinityRL) July 14, 2023

As for the Giants they were again without Theo Fages and so the half-back slots were occupied by Olly Russell and Tui Lolohea whilst maverick Jake Connor featured at full-back. Joe Greenwood returned whilst Leroy Cudjoe made his 350th appearance.

🟠 𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙈 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚜️

Greenwood returns in place of Ikahihifo, with Cudjoe set for his 350th Giants appearance, some man, Roy! 😍#CowbellArmy🐮🔔 | #RetroRound🎞️ pic.twitter.com/pZIgHqcF1X

— Huddersfield Giants 🐮🔔 (@Giantsrl) July 14, 2023

The early encounters of the match saw the home side go ahead with their try-scoring forward Chris McQueen adding another to his tally when he crashed over from short range.

They were the only points on the board for a long period with both sides exchanging sets and the highlight being Jermaine McGillvary spilling a near certain try, whilst Leroy Cudjoe also fell inches short of a try on his 350th appearance for the club.

McGillvary again spilled the ball when touching down on the half hour mark but four minutes later centre Kevin Naiqama added the second of the night.

Olly Russell added the extras to make it 12-0 and his duties were required again right on the buzzer as Sam Halsall scored following a Jake Connor 40/20, albeit Russell couldn’t add the extras that time meaning the Giants went in 16-0 up.

McGillvary then made up for his first-half mistakes as powered over in the corner to take his career tally to 248 and to help stretch the score to 22-0 after just 44 minutes.

At that point the floodgates opened and it looked very similar to the Wakefield side we saw in the first 14 games. Tui Lolohea capitalised on a Trinity error on their line and helped extend the Giants lead with Olly Russell once again adding the extras.

Trinity did show some fight though as they responded through Samisoni Langi but it was to no avail with Lolohea adding his second and the hosts sixth of the night to make it 34-6.

It was another big victory for Huddersfield to build on their impressive win over Catalans and more importantly it ensured that they wouldn’t get dragged in to a potential relegation scrap.

As for Wakefield it left them still two points adrift with another large dent in their points difference.