Huddersfield Giants snapped their losing streak by beating York Knights for the second time this season with Jim Lenihan’s side grinding out a win.
The Giants won 24-22 with York scoring two late tries to set up a nervy finish but they ultimately didn’t have enough.
Huddersfield still sit rooted to the bottom of the table but they’ve now got six points and are six shy of the Knights, who sit in eleventh.
David Nofoaluma opened the scoring but tries from Lewis Jagger and Tui Lolohea put the Giants 12-6 up. Scott Galeano hit back before Connor Wrench and Zac Woolford scored to open up a 14-point lead.
Jordan Thompson and Tom Inman scored to make it interesting but the comeback fell short as Huddersfield held on to taste victory for the first time since early April.
York Knights and Huddersfield Giants talking points
York comeback falters
Whilst Huddersfield would come out as winners, the Giants made hard work of it as they shipped two tries inside the space of three minutes to set up a final five minutes of pure nerves.
After suffering a late collapse against Wigan Warriors last week, it will have seemed like de ja vu for Jim Lenihan and the Giants fans, who have suffered all season long. Thankfully for those fans, they managed to hold on and it’s now on the Giants to build on this, with Hull FC on Thursday their next task.
Losing streak snapped
Huddersfield Giants tasted victory for the first time since early April when they beat York in round seven. Almost four months later, they’ve beaten the same side and landed just their third win of the season.
It means that their 12-game losing streak comes to an end with Jim Lenihan’s side certainly showing improvement under his coaching, albeit marginal.
The platform is now there for them in 2027, should they remain in Super League, but the job is far from done as they are desperately far behind the pack of established Super League clubs.
They still don’t have a stadium sorted for 2027, they have a host of players without deals for next year, and they have a fan base that is dwindling, though this result will be some just reward for those who have remained loyal.
Advert against 14 teams
Whilst the promoted teams have done better than expected, this game was a perfect example of why Super League should not have gone to 14 teams.
There simply is not enough quality across the competition, especially when injuries hit as hard as they have done this year.
An unattractive game of low quality that certainly won’t be remembered for long, yet it’s one of many this season with most rounds having one such example of a game that is a bad advert for the game.
Milestone man scores
Jordan Thompson went into the rugby league record books today as he made his 400th career appearance and he capped it off with a try.
The 34-year-old made his 210th Super League appearance with the bulk coming at Hull FC but it is fittingly York where he has played the most games, with this marking his 138th game for the Knights.
Out-of-favour Flanagan shines
George Flanagan was dropped by Jim Lenihan with the Giants boss stating his full-back needed time away, however, an injury for Oliver Russell forced his return, albeit to the bench.
Today saw him return to the starting XIII albeit on the wing as Niall Evalds started at full-back but an early HIA for the former Hull KR man saw Flanagan revert to his normal position, where he made quite the impression.
He also had a try-saving tackle early on Tom Inman, something that ultimately proved pivotal. With Evalds out for next week, he’s set to start at full-back and could possibly kick on.
The @Giantsrl get their third win of the season 🙌 #SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/qFm9Fmxqa1
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 25, 2026
