Huddersfield Giants hosted Salford Red Devils in their final home game of the Super League season and here are the key talking points.
Despite leading for most of the game, Salford shipped three tries in the final ten minutes as Huddersfield ran out 22-8 winners to close in on a tenth-placed finish in Super League.
Leroy Cudjoe was given a guard of honour as he took to the field in what will be his final home game for Huddersfield Giants, with the 37-year-old retiring at the end of the year.
Cudjoe started at prop, meaning he’s played every position other than hooker in his career, with Adam Swift’s return another boost for Huddersfield. As for Salford, Nene Macdonald was named on the bench after his shock return from Australia.
Justin Sangare opened the scoring with Rowan Milnes then addng a penalty to make it 8-0 before an Ash Golding try made it 8-4 at the half. Adam Swift created that and then scored his own to take the lead, before Jacob Gagai and Kieran Rush scored even later to make it 22-8.
That final try was converted by Cudjoe with the club legend kicking it from in front of the sticks to cap off his final home game.
Huddersfield Giants and Salford Red Devils talking points
Double sin bin
Tiaki Chan and George Flanagan both got sent to the sin bin on the 75th minute, meaning it was effectively a send off as neither men could return, so the game ended 12 v 12.
Chan had reclaimed the restart and found himself tied up with Flanagan before the Salford forward then swung his hand towards the Giants’ full-back. It appeared to be a clenched fist but the referee called it an open hand, meaning it was just a sin bin.
Flanagan, who seemed to be the victim, was sent for ten for the ‘same thing’ according to the referee suggesting that the TV cameras had missed his involvement.
Errors, errors and more errors
It was horrible weather in Huddersfield with the rain teaming down all game and whilst that certainly excused some errors, it can’t factor in for all of them.
Rather than trading blow for blow with big shots and expansive plays, the teams got into a period of trading errors with the second-half being particularly bad.
It’s yet another game that is an advert against expanding Super League to 14 teams with the quality and depth for that being questionable.
Nene Macdonald’s return
Salford fans were understandably in shock when they saw Nene Macdonald named to their 21-man squad and even then, they’ll have had doubts over whether he played but the centre did actually make his first appearance since May.
A fan favourite, there were plenty of cheers when he took to the field and he made an immediate impact as he made good yards after contact on his first carry. It’s unclear what the future holds for Salford, never mind for Macdonald, but he’s such a special player and at 31, he’s got lots to offer.
Whether that is with Salford, who he is contracted to until the end of the 2027 season, or with another club either in Super League or the NRL is yet to be seen. But one thing that’s evident from today is that Macdonald definitely still has it, despite not playing or even training with the squad for months.
Mr Huddersfield Giants gets guard of honour
Even though he’s 37, the decision by Leroy Cudjoe to retire probably still surprised plenty as there is a feeling that he’s only getting better in his forward role. He’s been exceptional since transitioning into the forward pack and today saw him start at prop for the first time ever.
Both Salford and Huddersfield’s teams walked out before Cudjoe with the veteran given a guard of honour ahead of his 407th game for the Giants, and his final one at home.
He came very close to scoring in the opening minute but ultimately, he came out on the winning side which will have been all he wanted on his final home game.
Super League’s forgotten winger
Adam Swift made his return for the Giants, playing for the first time since Round 20, and he made a massive impact. Having played in a torrid Huddersfield team all season, Swift has still managed to amass ten tries in 17 appearances in 2025.
In an error-strewn game, it was Swift who looked the true class act in Huddersfield’s side and you just hope that in 2026, he and the Giants spine stars are fit so he can really kick on. It’s worth noting that he scored 17 in 13 in 2024 before his injury. Super League deserves to see a fully fit Adam Swift.
Teams
Huddersfield Giants XIII: George Flanagan Jr, Adam Swift, Jacob Gagai, Jake Bibby, Sam Halsall, Kieran Rush, Oliver Russell, Tom Burgess, Zac Woolford, Leroy Cudjoe, Jack Billington, Joe Greenwood, Harry Rushton
Interchanges: Ashton Golding, George King, Fenton Rogers, Tristan Powell
Salford Red Devils XIII: Jack Walker, Neil Tchamambe, Louix Gorman, Jack Darbyshire, Nathan Connell, Esan Marsters, Rowan Milnes, Justin Sangare, Joe Mellor, Tiaki Chan, Dan Russell, Leon Ruan, Harvey Wilson
Interchanges: Charlie Glover, Isaac Shaw, Sam Davis, Nene Macdonald
A home win for @Giantsrl in Round 26 🙌#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/yCQhZVteR1
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 14, 2025
