Huddersfield Giants 24 Hull FC 10: Anderson applauds Giants’ ‘collective resolve’

The Giants were staring at a second consecutive home defeat when they trailed 10-6 early in the second half, but finished the stronger side at the John Smith’s Stadium to claim a sixth win in seven attempts.

Anderson said: “We’re just looking at trying to grind some wins out. You don’t win anything at this time of the year.

“We’re finding ways to win games at the moment. There is a lot of improvement in us.

“We weren’t the most cohesive. It was a real tough game. Both teams came prepared to trade sets in the arm wrestle.

“I thought Hull had the better field position and more attacking kicks, but I can’t fault our collective resolve to find something special to beat a good team. As a spectacle it was probably not the best but it was real physical; that’s rugby league.”

Hooker Shaun Lunt gave Huddersfield the lead with an opportunist try after 18 minutes, but Hull recovered from a sluggish start to open up a four-point lead with tries from Ben Galea and Ben Crooks.

The Giants regained the lead when centre Joe Wardle sent winger Aaron Murphy over at the corner after 54 minutes before Wardle scored himself, and full-back Scott Grix applied the finishing touches with the 100th try of his career in the last minute.

Hull went into the game without three members of the side that demolished Castleford 52-0 and coach Peter Gentle admitted training had been disrupted by injury and illness.

“Six players had fitness tests (on Saturday), five passed and one didn’t,” he said.

“I was very pleased with our effort, although our execution left something to be desired at times.

“We didn’t give ourselves a chance in the first half – we were a bit shellshocked – but we looked dangerous when we got into the game and, with a bit of luck, we could have got closer or even got a win. There are no panic stations yet. Huddersfield are a very good team, they’re leading this competition for a reason and we weren’t far off.

“We had a few young blokes out there and they will be better for the experience.”

Huddersfield Giants: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy, Brough, Robinson, Crabtree, Lunt, Fielden, Ferres, Ferguson, Faiumu. Substitutes: Kopczak, Patrick, Ta’ai, Cording.

Hull FC: McDonnell, Lineham, Arundel, Crooks, Briscoe, Holdsworth, Horne, O’Meley, Houghton, Lynch, Galea, Westerman, Watts. Substitutes: Whiting, Pitts, Bowden, Green.

Referee: Phil Bentham (Warrington).