Huddersfield Giants 24 Bradford Bulls 12: Early blitz on poor Bulls sees Giants start brightly

Super league: LEROY CUDJOE scored two tries as Huddersfield Giants confidently proved their off-field problems will not deter them in Super League XV.

The Giants, who had six of their squad arrested last month on allegations of rape, delivered a typically powerful display as they saw off Bradford Bulls in their opening fixture.

Coach Nathan Brown insisted those on-going issues – the players were released on bail until March 18 as police continue their inquiries – would not affect his side as they prepared to try to emulate last season's fine achievements.

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Last night they backed up that statement with livewire winger Cudjoe quickly showing his intent and influential captain Brett Hodgson immediately carrying on from the form that saw him win Man of Steel in 2009.

Stand-off Kevin Brown, returning for the first time since injuring his knee in the Challenge Cup final last August, was also a constant threat as mistake-ridddled Bradford never recovered from an early 16-0 deficit even when the hosts were twice reduced to 12 men.

Giants, named Super League club of the year in 2009 after clinching a highest finish of third, were swiftly into their stride shrugging off the early loss of prop Keith Mason with a shoulder injury.

With Lee Gilmour, Graeme Horne, David Fa'alogo and Scott Grix all making debuts, they enjoyed some fortune for their first try when Luke Robinson's kick was only partially charged down by Heath L'Estrange, handing possession straight back to Brown's men.

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Brett Hodgson's excellent long pass had Bradford's left-side defence in pieces and Cudjoe breezed over.

Hodgson converted and, after both the Bulls' Andy Lynch and Jamie Langley spilled possession in their own half, Cudjoe was soon over again.

Brown gracefully stepped through close to the line and, although Steve Menzies wrapped up the stand-off, it only delayed the inevitable.

Hodgson picked out the winger with a pinpoint kick that left Stuart Reardon isolated, handing Cudjoe another stroll over.

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Huddersfield tried to help Bradford into the match, twice missing touch with penalties, but their poor opponents only threatened once, Lynch charging close on the last tackle, Horne muscling up well to deny the prop.

When Bulls centre Paul Sykes made another unforced handling error in his side's own half, Huddersfield added a third try.

Brown again caused havoc with his big side-step and Shaun Lunt burrowed through some weak on-line defence.

Hodgson improved and he should have scored himself after hacking on a loose ball but a cruel bounce denied him.

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England prop Eorl Crabtree also went close after the weaving Brown had once more left Bulls defenders flat-footed and Huddersfield seemed in complete control.

Bradford coach Steve McNamara was hoping for a convincing start after his side missed the play-offs last year, but it was not to be even though they clawed their way back in with two tries before the break.

New signing Matt Orford showed his class for the first time with a bullet pass that enabled Chris Nero to send Reardon sliding in at the corner and the scrum-half then hoisted a kick to the opposite side that caused confusion for Giants winger David Hodgson, allowing Sykes just enough time to twist and find Rikki Sheriffe.

But Sykes missed both conversion attempts to leave Bradford 16-8 down at the break. Any hopes of a complete turnaround were ended early in the second half.

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Fa'alogo exposed more meek defence close to the line to score on his debut, Hodgson adding the extras, and, even when Huddersfield were reduced to 12 men when Robinson was yellow-carded for persistent infringing, it was the home side that extended their lead through Hodgson's penalty.

Not long after Robinson's return, and with 16 minutes remaining, Gilmour was also sin-binned after blatantly obstructing Brett Kearney when the Australian tapped through a kick for the line.

However, this time the Giants could not hold out, Reardon earning his second touchdown after slick approach play by Orford and Chris Nero.

As a thick mist descended around the Galpharm, a series of penalties in Bradford's favour handed them ample opportunity to make further inroads but a combination of stout defence and poor execution meant Huddersfield stayed firm and it will be Bradford left asking questions of themselves.

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Huddersfield Giants: B Hodgson, Cudjoe, Lolesi, Lawrence, D Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, D. Griffin, Lunt, Mason, Gilmour, Horne, Faiumu. Substitutes: Crabtree, Grix, Fa'alogo, Raleigh.

Bradford Bulls: Halley, Sheriffe, Sykes, Nero, Reardon, Kearney, Orford, Scruton, L'Estrange, Lynch, Hall, Langley, Menzies. Substitutes: Godwin, Worrincy, Kopczak, Donaldson.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).