Huddersfield 38 Catalans 14: Giants urged to be more ruthless by Anderson

Aaron Murphy and Ukuma Ta’ai both scored doubles, with Leroy Cudjoe, Jermaine McGillvary and Scott Grix also crossing, as the Giants ended a three-match losing run, but Anderson still felt they left points out on the field.

“We created a lot more chances than we’ve done in a long time. The next challenge is to take those opportunities,” the Huddersfield coach said.

“We still scored scored 38 points but it’s a little disappointing in that we should’ve had more.

“There were opportunities there that with some more composure we could’ve seriously run away with the score.”

Anderson revealed Chris Bailey, who was taken off injured after just three minutes, could need surgery on his arm.

Scott Dureau had Catalans 8-6 in front at one stage but even though Julian Bousquet also scored for the visitors the Giants won out.

Anderson added: “We looked more like a team today. But our start was pathetic. We just wandered around as if we were training – and that’s something I’ll have to address.”

Dureau scored a try on 21 minutes when Elliot Whitehead passed inside after a solo dash past two players split the Giants defence.

Dureau converted and then added a penalty goal on 24 minutes for a poor shoulder charge on him by Joe Wardle.

Huddersfield responded with three tries in 10 minutes at the end of the first half – and it could have been more.

Connor nearly put Murphy in again down the left while Leroy Cudjoe was held up on the right flank after Brough’s break.

In between Ta’ai pounced for a try when a Dragons defender fumbled a high kick from Brough.

Scotland star Brough, whose kicking caused problems for the visitors all game, was at it twice more before half-time. His kick led to Murphy’s second try and then another Brough bomb was dropped on the hooter by a defender and Cudjoe pounced.

Brough, who took his tally to 58 points for the season with three earlier conversions, hit the post.

Huddersfield led 22-8 at the break, with the sides trading tries after the restart as Catalans narrowed the gap to 26-14.

Bousquet scored a converted try on 45 minutes while McGillvary went over at the other end.

There was controversy when a simmering feud between Cudjoe and Willie Tonga boiled over.

The pair seemed to exchange words and former NRL star Tonga responded by appearing to headbutt Cudjoe right in front of referee Robert Hicks. Tonga was sin-binned and Cudjoe got a verbal warning.

Huddersfield took full advantage of the extra man by running in two quick tries, first from Ta’ai a minute later and then Grix.

There was no further score, but Louis Anderson lost his temper late on as Huddersfield defensively shut the game down.

Huddersfield: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Connor, Murphy, Brough, Wood, Crabtree, Robinson, Huby, Wardle, Hughes, Bailey. Substitutes: Kopczak, Ta’ai, Ellis, Cox.

Catalans Dragons: Robin, Oldfield, Tonga, Taia, Cardace, Bosc, Dureau, Elima, Henderson, Casty, Whitehead, Anderson, Baitieri. Substitutes: Lima, Pelissier, Garcia, Bousquet.

Referee: R Hicks (RFL).