Huddersfield Giants 16 Salford Red Devils 24: Giants made to pay by hat-trick man Krisnan Inu

In fairness, the influential Australian scrum-half - leading the Steve Prescott Man of Steel leaderboard following some scintillating displays - was almost faultless again as he helped the West Yorkshire club build up a 12-0 lead against Challenge Cup finalists Salford Red Devils.

Indeed, after they had seen that advantage obliterated as Salford roared back into this Super League contest, it was his second try that put them in touching distance once more in the 66th minute.

Sezer hoisted a high kick that Darnell McIntosh did wonderfully to gather in front of Dan Sarginson, the winger showing composure to then feed his captain a return pass.

The conversion would have levelled the contest at 18-18 and set up a fascinating finish but 29 year-old Sezer slipped slightly as he approached the relatively simple kick and hit an upright to alleviate the pressure on their rivals.

Instead, indefatigable Salford - who have made such a habit of late of fighting back from losing positions - confirmed victory with Krisnan Inu’s hat-trick soon after.

As is if to rub salt into Sezer’s wounds, the veteran Kiwi saw his touchline conversion ricochet in off a post.

It meant Salford - who face Leeds Rhinos at Wembley on Saturday week - extended their winning run to five games.

Interim Giants head coach Luke Robinson, though, will rue other missed opportunities, not least when their opponents were down to 12 men, as their slim hopes of reaching the top-four took a significant hit.

As is so often the case, Huddersfield defended manfully for most of the contest but Salford’s greater precision proved the difference.

Giants had been in control after back-to-back converted tries from Leroy Cudjoe and Sezer put them 12-0 up after 19 minutes.

It had been a high-class start, both sides showing class and composure while testing each other out.

However, typically, it was Sezer who took charge to make the breakthrough.

Similar to that critical point to come, the former Canberra Raider star lost his footing preparing to get a kick away on the last tackle but, half-grounded, still had the wherewithal to get the ball to Lee Gaskell who also improvised brilliantly to smuggle Cudjoe over.

After a ‘six again’ call in the next set, it was Sezer who crossed.

His side looked to have taken the wrong option when - with Sezer and Gaskell teamed up ready to strike - prop Suaia Matagi instead barrelled it close.

Nevertheless, Sezer seized the initiative and assertively charged onto the next play, just like a front-row himself, catching the defence off-guard to twist over.

When he launched a raid on the last tackle in the following set, Huddersfield thought they could be in for a third try but referee Robert Hicks waved away Gaskell’s claims that he had been blocked when chasing down Jermaine McGillvary’s kick.

Instead, rather than looking to move 18-0 ahead, Robinson’s side suddenly found themselves just 12-6 ahead when Chris Atkin - the former Hull KR half-back enjoying a run-out with Kevin Brown rested - intercepted McIntosh’s pass to scamper in from halfway.

It was a turning point; Joe Wardle would have been in the clear but the pass was marginally mis-timed.

Inu converted and, although Salford were reduced to 12 men when Sarginson was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle on Ashton Golding, they remained undeterred.

Huddersfield failed to capitalise, Kenny Edwards forcing a forward pass and Tom Holmes dabbing in a poor kick, meaning Salford actually narrowed the deficit further when Inu slotted a penalty in the final seconds of the half.

When Sarginson returned, it was Huddersfield who saw a player put in the sin-bin, Edwards being yellow-carded in the 47th minute after a quick succession of infringements from his side when defending their own line.

A couple of those penalties seemed harsh but Salford did no ask any questions and - unlike their opponents - instantly made use of the extra man to squeeze Inu over in the left corner.

Typically, the former Parramatta Eels star was pinpoint with his touchline conversion to put his side ahead for the first time but when he erred from the restart, Huddersfield had a swift opportunity to cancel that out.

Unfortunately for Robinson’s side, they lacked that clinical edge, Gaskell - for the first time - looking like someone just back from injury as he spilled Sezer’s wide pass with space opening up.

It was costly again: when Giants full-back Golding made a rare error, Salford punished him, Inu this time using all of his brute force to barge through McGillvary, never the easiest of tasks.

Admittedly, the towering winger was off-cue with his conversion attempt and that looked like being critical when Sezer went in for his second try.

However, Salford were let off the hook.

Huddersfield Giants: Golding; McGillvary, Cudjoe, Jake Wardle, McIntosh; Gaskell, Sezer; Hewitt, Holmes, Matagi, McQueen, Edwards, Lawrence. Substitutes: Russell, Joe Wardle, Trout, Gavet.

Salford Red Devils: Sarginson; Williams, Watkins, Welham, Inu; Lolohea, Atkin; Mossop, Lussick, Dudson, Lannon, Greenwood, Yates. Substitutes: Ackers, Yates, Pauli, Ormondroyd.

Referee: Robert Hicks (Oldham)

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Thank you

James Mitchinson