Giants roar in defiance after being singled out by Saints

As part of the controversial Club Call system, the West Yorkshire club were yesterday chosen by favourites St Helens as their Super League elimination semi-final opponents.

It was not an unexpected decision given Saints' only other option was fierce rivals Wigan who finished top of the table and looked ominously back near their best in easily dispatching Hull KR on Friday night.

However, fifth-placed Huddersfield secured their place in the last four with a stirring 34-22 success at highly-fancied Warrington on Saturday evening, a seventh successive victory which stunned the Challenge Cup holders.

As the race towards the Grand Final intensifies, England international Kevin Brown revealed how "disrespectful" comments from a series of pundits helped motivate them to an outstanding success.

"We spoke about it," said the influential stand-off, who scored one of the tries as bullish Giants surged into a commanding 23-0 interval lead. "It seemed no one gave us a chance and we were just destined to lose.

"All those guys on TV – Jon Wells, Shaun McRae and the rest – had just written us off and were talking past our game.

"They were already discussing Warrington playing St Helens in the semis which we thought was a little disrespectful.

"It didn't bother us; we had confidence and knew we had beaten good teams before. We were always confident and knew we could go to Warrington and win.

"I'm glad Saints have now picked us. Hopefully everyone will write us off again and people will spend all week talking about a Wigan- Saints final.

"Then we'll see what happens this weekend."

The 8-1 outsiders have not won at Knowsley Road since 1978 but that does not deter Brown or his colleagues as they prepare for Friday's game, the final game in the 120-year history of the ageing stadium.

"We'd never won a play-off game before last week," he said.

"Ever since Browny's (coach Nathan Brown) come here we've been breaking records all the way. There's no reason why we can't go to St Helens and break that one as well.

"We'll be underdogs again but it's not a problem for us."

Indeed, under Australian coach Brown, Huddersfield have prospered, last season reaching the Challenge Cup final for the first time in 47 years and finishing third, their highest league placing since 1962.

They appear to be a side that has matured quickly enough to grace their first Grand Final and St Helens coach Mick Potter, who hopes to sign off with his first Super League title before joining Bradford Bulls, insisted it proved a difficult decision in choosing the Giants.

"I texted a few guys, and there were varying opinions," he said.

"A couple of them said it didn't really matter, and a couple tilted towards Wigan.

"Watching the weekend games we didn't really want to pick either.

"Huddersfield have won quite a few on a roll but you take the lowest-ranked team that have lost more over the season.

"It was just down to where they sit on the ladder – they're no easy beats – and I'm just glad we're playing them at home.

"I'm sure our decision will motivate the Giants but you just have to grin and bear it."

That means Leeds host Wigan in the other semi-final at Headingley Carnegie on Saturday.

The defending champions, bidding for a fourth consecutive title, earned home advantage after winning a classic contest 27-26 at Wigan in the first round of play-offs a week ago.

That defeat saw the Warriors forfeit Club Call as highest-ranked winners of the opening encounters and gave Leeds the weekend off.

"I reckon we probably needed it more than anyone," said Rhinos coach Brian McClennan.

"Given we've been in the World Club Challenge and Challenge Cup final, that extra week has been beneficial.

"It was the best way for us to go and fortunately it unfolded that way. We've used it wisely as we're not playing at our best and in a way that excites us.

"It means there's plenty of improvement in us."

It was Leeds who earned the first Club Call last year when they duly adopted the same stance as Saints and picked the lowest-ranked side.

Back then, it was an easier choice though given their tiring opponents – Catalans – had battled through to the semi-finals from eighth.

However, the concept continues to polarise opinion. While bringing undoubted attention to the sport, the decision being televised live from Knowsley Road yesterday, it also puts clubs in unnecessarily difficult positions.

St Helens have never been fans and captain Keiron Cunningham – looking to retire in glory at a fifth successive final on October 2 – said: "It's a bit of a daft system.

"I'm sure we'll have a new one next year though.

"As for Friday, it's going to be emotional, of course.

"We'd rather lose to Huddersfield than Wigan. After the tussle Leeds and Wigan had together last week, it will be good to see Wigan going back across there to knock 10 bells out of each other."