Harlequins 18 Huddersfield Giants 32: Cudjoe's Giants hat-trick leaves Brown to lavish praise

NATHAN BROWN hailed the performance of Leroy Cudjoe after the winger bagged a hat-trick of tries in Huddersfield Giants' win over a gritty Harlequins side.

Cudjoe's heroics settled a contest in which the visitors twice seemed to be in control, only for the Londoners to fight back.

Coach Brown believes having a player with the scoring prowess of Cudjoe gives his side a real cutting edge.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: "Leroy is a great finisher and he always seems to know where to put himself.

"When you put him in a scoring position he usually takes that opportunity and today was no different.

"He may not have needed to work hard but it is all in the anticipation.

"We needed that today as I thought Harlequins fought really hard.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"At 30-6 we looked well in control but they hung in there and put us under pressure.

Launch the Yorkshire Post's Rugby League video player

"We do not seem to play the conditions well enough – in wet weather we need to focus on building pressure rather than scoring tries and that is something we need to learn.

"But that is three wins on the bounce for us and we will go to St Helens next week in confidence."

Despite teeming rain, both sides did their best to entertain, although it looked as the visitors were going to run riot early on.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Both Lee Gilmour and Cudjoe crossed in the opening five minutes and a heavy Huddersfield win looked on the cards.

But the hosts dug in and, although they rarely threatened in attack, tackled themselves into the ground.

It was the 35th minute before Huddersfield struck again, Cudjoe again on hand to claim a Luke Robinson kick.

But Quins grabbed a try on the hooter, Chad Randall burrowing over after David Howell was held just short.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The visitors looked to have killed the game early in the second half as further scores from Cudjoe and a rare Eorl Crabtree try opened up a healthy lead.

And when Graeme Horne cantered over with over 20 minutes to play, from a Harlequins perspective it looked worrying.

But instead of giving in, Quins stepped up their efforts and throwing the ball around led to scores from Chris Melling and Tony Clubb.

The Giants were rattled, and required a late Hodgson penalty to calm matters, secure the two points and ease back into third place in the Super League table.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Despite seeing his side lose for the sixth time in seven games, Quins coach Brian McDermott was enthused by their efforts. He said: "I think that was our best performance of the season and I am proud of them. There are so many young players out there but slowly things are coming off and we are building something."

Harlequins RL: Jones-Bishop, Sharp, Clubb, Howell, O'Callaghan, Melling, Orr, Wilkes, Randall, Ward, Williamson, Bolger, Golden. Substitutes: Bryan, Williams, Bibb, McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

Huddersfield: B. Hodgson, Cudjoe, Wild, Gilmour, D. Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, D. Griffin, Lunt, Raleigh, Horne, Fa'alogo, Aspinwall. Substitutes: Crabtree, Patrick, Grix, Faiumu.

Referee: P Bentham (Warrington).