Giants’ perfect response sees them down Rhinos

The Kaiser Chiefs, Great Britain triathlete Jonathan Brownlee and newly-appointed England rugby union chief Stuart Lancaster were littered among the 15,408 crowd hoping to see a champion performance from the hosts.

However, Brian McDermott’s side had no answer to clinical Huddersfield, who, having waited 51 years for a win at Headingley, have now earned two in as many seasons.

With Scott Grix brilliantly orchestrating play, aided by Danny Brough and supported by the constantly threatening full-back Greg Eden, their rapier thrust was too much in a closely fought encounter.

Eorl Crabtree was towering up front for the visitors, Jason Chan and David Fa’alogo providing further ballast as Nathan Brown’s side gave him just the response he wanted to Sunday’s surprise loss at Hull KR.

He was fulsome in his praise of ex-Castleford Tigers youngster Eden saying: “Greg’s got the potential to be one of the greatest players in the comp – he’s a young Billy Slater who can do things most others can’t – just brilliant.”

Leeds, while suffering a second successive defeat, gave plenty but, missing the creative talents of Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow and Brent Webb they were always going to struggle for the same invention as their opponents.

However, 18-year-old half-back Stevie Ward proved their most potent player on his home debut with an exciting and encouragingly authoritative display for someone so young.

He will certainly be one to watch out for while Richard Moore also brought Leeds plenty of impact off the bench.

There had been no score until the 25th minute which seemed strange given both sides were so willing to chance their arm from the off.

However, for all their adventure and exuberance, neither team showed enough composure to capitalise which meant there was a succession of dropped balls and missed opportunities. The breakthrough came courtesy of the more commonplace kick towards the corner, although it was an excellent example of the skill.

Under real pressure, Kevin Sinfield managed to launch the ball and, from nowhere as the Huddersfield defenders dozed, Zak Hardaker stole in to catch on the full and score.

Sinfield improved but their opponents, who adapted well without injured captain Kevin Brown, responded quickly.

Rhinos second-row Chris Clarkson was a little too ambitious in trying to move the ball wide and, from his error, Huddersfield pounced.

Hardaker – who truly announced himself to Super League with the hat-trick which ruined Giants’ Old Trafford dream the last time these sides met – did brilliantly to prevent David Faiumu touching down but Crabtree muscled over from the next play.

Danny Brough converted and, when Paul McShane’s discipline fell, Huddersfield struck again before the break.

Grix, who has been a revelation at stand-off this year, was the architect as he accelerated through midfield before cleverly holding up and awaiting Jason Chan’s support; he finished sharply.

Brough’s kick made it 12-6 at half-time and Larne Patrick thought he had extended that lead when the dynamic centre-cum-prop left Ben Jones-Bishop rooted with some neat footwork only to see the ball come loose over the line after Kallum Watkins’s last-ditch tackle.

However, two tries in as many minutes gave Huddersfield the advantage needed to eventually hold off the champions,

There was a touch of fortune to the first when Jermaine McGillvary, hugging the touchline, kicked hopefully infield and saw the ball sit up perfectly for full-back Greg Eden to race in, Jones-Bishop again deceived.

But the next was wonderfully created as Grix’s inside ball on halfway exposed Leeds and allowed Eden to sprint into space once more.

Brough supported and evaded enough of the flailing cover to find Leroy Cudjoe, whose instant pass invited McGillvary to dive in at the corner for a brilliant score.

The Leeds pressure was always going to come and it duly did with the confident Ward, in particular, proving a real danger with his flair and ingenuity.

He had earlier got Jones-Bishop over the line but great Huddersfield defence saw him held up.

Joe Wardle also thwarted Kylie Leuluai in similar style before Crabtree – shortly after making a stunning surging midfield break – somehow denied Liam Hood.

Sinfield finally forced a gap for Leuluai to storm through for a try with 13 minutes to go which he improved, but Huddersfield’s greater resilience ensured they steadied to claim the two points.

McDermott said: “Overall, our performance was a lot better than at Saints but it’s disappointing tries came from what you’d call soft missed tackles.”

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Leeds Rhinos: Jones-Bishop, Smith Watkins, Hardaker, Hall, Sinfield, Ward, Leuluai, McShane, Peacock, Clarkson, Delaney, Ablett. Substitutes: Kirke, Griffin, Moore, Hood.

Huddersfield Giants: Eden, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, George, Brough, Grix, Crabtree, Robinson, Fa’alogo, Gilmour, Chan, Lee. Substitutes: Lawrence,O’Donnell, Faiumu, Patrick.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Mirfield).