Stone wants Giants response after Salford rout

Salford snapped their eight-match losing run in emphatic fashion at the AJ Bell Stadium against Huddersfield '“ the last team they beat more than two months ago.
Huddersfield Giants head coach Rick Stone.Huddersfield Giants head coach Rick Stone.
Huddersfield Giants head coach Rick Stone.

The lowest Betfred Super League crowd this year – just 1,405 – saw Manu Vatuvei and Kris Welham score two tries each in the 52-14 rout, while Gareth O’Brien made an effortless switch from full-back to scrum-half with an influential performance, kicking eight goals.

Other Salford tries came from Niall Evalds, Jake Bibby, Tyrone McCarthy, Josh Jones and Ben Murdoch-Masila.

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Giants responded with tries from Jermaine McGillvary, Ollie Roberts and Ryan Hinchcliffe.

Huddersfield coach Rick Stone acknowledged his side had been a distant second best.

“We weren’t at the races today,” he said. “Salford turned up with some real intent and they ran and tackled harder.

“Salford marched us down the field and put us under pressure.

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“I am disappointed for a lot of people at the club, especially our fans. I’d like to think it’s something we can get over quickly.

“We haven’t had a good record here. We prepared well but were gutted to lose to Castleford last week and maybe that took a bit out of us. You have go out there and have some pride in your performance, but we were found wanting.

“We did better in the second half but full credit to the opposition – they did well.

“I’m looking for some sort of response next week and making sure that doesn’t happen again. That’s what we’ll be working towards. We have got a little bit of work to do this week.”

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Salford coach Ian Watson said: “I don’t think we have been as good as that in a game-plan for some time. The boys out there have done themselves proud. They gave it everything.”

Salford: Evalds, Bibby, Welham, Sa’u, Vatuvei, Lui, O’Brien, Kopczak, Tomkins, Hauraki, Murdoch-Masila, Jones, McCarthy. Substitutes: A. Walne, Brinning, Lannon, J. Walne.

Huddersfield: Rankin, McGillvary, Mellor, Turner, Ormsby, Gaskell, Brough, Ikahihifo, Leeming, Ta’ai, Roberts, Ferguson, Hinchcliffe. Substitutes: O’Brien, Rapira, Lawrence, Clough.

Referee: J Child (RFL).