Huddersfield Giants have claimed back-to-back wins, after they fell over the line in a 22-16 victory over Hull FC.
The Giants were down 10-6 at half-time, but three second-half tries from Lewis Jagger, Connor Wrench and George Flanagan saw them over the line.
It certainly won’t live long in the memory book, that game, but for Jim Lenihan and his side, it marks a key stage in their development – being able to win scrappy and coming out of the other side in games they would have lost earlier in the season.
For Hull FC, the worrying signs continue, and whilst some players had ‘okay’ games, too many of their players failed to perform yet again.
The Black and Whites now sit two points above Huddersfield, who remain bottom, but an FC win would have increased the gap to six, and almost certainly confirmed Huddersfield as this year’s wooden spooners.
They now stretch their losing run to seven matches, and with games coming up against St Helens, Castleford and Catalans, if they play like that, it could extend to double figures.
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Huddersfield Giants v Hull FC talking points
Well, one team had to win it:Â
“Unlikely to be a classic” – the words of SARL writer Peter Smith in this week’s predictions, and whilst it was certainly blunt, he wasn’t wrong.
With unforced errors aplenty, a lack of creative spark and two teams with very little to play for, it made for a dull watch overall.
There were some good moments, with the tries for Chris Patolo and Davy Litten being well-worked ones, but in a weekend where this game was the only one that didn’t clash with another, it wasn’t exactly a game to write home about.
Ese’ese absence:
Andy Last made a shock call ahead of tonight’s game, as he dropped star man Herman Ese’ese. The former NRL prop has been criticised in recent weeks for his fitness, and it seems that the interim boss feels the same, and has dropped the big man in an attempt to motivate him to improve.
Yusuf Aydin returned to the side in his place, coming off the bench whilst Hugo Salabio joined Harvie Hill in the starting pack.
Last initially refuted the claim that his FC side were “unfit” in mid-week, but seemingly agreed on the part of Ese’ese, who now needs to prove himself in order to return to the side.
Effort on show but a clear lack of execution:
The statement can be said for both teams, but it’s Huddersfield to which it applies to more. The improvements that Jim Lenihan has made is there to see, and they just did enough to get over the line tonight, but effort will only get teams so far. They need that talisman to bring it all together and take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Adam Clune is supposed to be that man, but with him constantly injured, the Giants are left with no one who can really change a game.
After a stellar 2025, George Flanagan is beginning to get found out, whilst Tui Lolohea looks good on the eye when he’s dancing around with ball in hand, but more often than not he makes the wrong decision in attack.
For FC, the partnership between Jake Arthur and Aidan Sezer continues to fail, with the club needing to choose between one or the other. Ultimately, it was Sezer who lost his side the game, after a high tackle on Lewis Jagger gave Huddersfield the field position to put Flanagan over for his match-winning try.
Barron and Batchelor stand out in defeat:
With Hull FC having somewhat of a selection dilemma within their outside backs, one man who continues to show he is worthy of a starting spot is Harvey Barron.
The 23-year-old was excellent carrying out of back-field, and made a number of breaks down the right edge that his teammates couldn’t quite finish off.
His work in defence to stop Jacob Gagai from getting the ball down in the first half was equally impressive as it was pivotal, with his effort keeping FC in front as they headed to the sheds.
Another FC man who perhaps didn’t deserve to be on the losing side was back-rower Joe Batchelor, who scored the opening try for FC and had a solid game in the pack.
The former Saints man very nearly grabbed another that would have potentially levelled the game with 90 seconds to go, but was deemed offside in the buildup.
