Huddersfield Giants 30 Crusaders 12: Brown will stay with Giants as club look to stabilise

That is no attack on the quality of this Sunday afternoon contest – although it was far from a classic – but simply the magnitude of the news announced at the Galpharm Stadium.

Huddersfield chose the break to inform the 5,339 attendance that their revered head coach Nathan Brown is staying at the club until the end of 2011 following an unexpected, but warmly-received U-turn by the Australian.

The former St George's chief had announced in May he would be cutting short his stay at Huddersfield and leaving at the end of the season due to family reasons.

Huddersfield have since advertised the post and assistant Paul Anderson was thought ready to step up to take over from Brown, who won Super League coach of the year award last season after guiding the club to third place and a Challenge Cup final in his debut campaign.

But the 36-year-old has had a change of heart due to a number of reasons, including perhaps a lack of main jobs in the NRL, and has accepted chairman Ken Davy's invite to take up the final year of his deal with the West Yorkshire club.

"There was some exciting opportunities back home which I talked to some people about but at end of the day we made a decision which we thought was best," he said. "A few things have happened. Basically, my house burnt down at home (in Sydney) which was unfortunate while my wife was ill when I first made the decision but she's fine now.

"Four or five weeks ago, (managing director) Richard (Thewlis) and Ken (Davy) said would I consider staying on.

"I was always happy staying here but now the whole family is happy it makes it a good one. Fate presented an opportunity."

Brown admitted last year's grim winter had factored into his initial decision, especially considering the life his young children could enjoy in Australia.

But he added: "Ken Davy said he was going to invest some money in global warming so he could get better weather for me.

"It's quite ironic. Some people in Sydney are now saying it's the coldest winter they've ever seen.

"I've told them not to whinge at me; as it's beautiful here now and the shoe's on the other foot."

Brown – who is believed to have been in the running for the Sydney Roosters assistant's role – says he made the decision on Friday and told the Giants' players the following day.

"It probably gave a little bit of stability for people and the club," he said. "It knows where it's going for the next 12 months."

Following victory over Crusaders, Huddersfield yesterday moved back above Hull KR into sixth spot and within two points of champions Leeds, who they visit on Friday.

By the time of Brown's announcement, his side had moved into a 16-6 lead.

Luke Robinson's defence-splitting pass allowed Shaun Lunt – recently called up to the England squad given his development as a hooker but now operating as a dynamic second-row – to dart through and step around Clinton Shifcofske on 21 minutes, Brett Hodgson converting.

However, Robinson's attempt to usher his side over down the left flank soon after came to a costly conclusion when Jarrod Sammut intercepted his pass and raced 90 metres to score, just staving off Leroy Cudjoe's excellent attempt to track the stand-off down.

Shifcofske improved but Huddersfield – eager to banish the memory of a dismal 44-18 defeat at Castleford a week earlier – took charge with two tries in three minutes.

Stephen Wild crashed over from close range for his first try of the season before Jermaine McGillvary got the first of his two tries.

Robinson was the creator again with a searing midfield break before his precision kick to the corner saw the young winger – back in place of injured Jamahl Lolesi – take the rewards.

Brett Hodgson hit a post with his conversion attempt but Huddersfield, with England prop Eorl Crabtree returning from injury, seemed to have put the result beyond doubt when centre Michael Lawrence gracefully slipped clear of the Crusaders' defence four minutes into the second period.

At 20-6, they should have advanced further but their intensity slipped and dogged Crusaders inched their way back into the contest.

Indeed, after Weller Hauraki splintered Wild and Lunt to get over on the hour mark, Schifcofske making it 20-12, Brian Noble's team looked the more dangerous and, if they had boasted any sort of kicking game, could have overhauled the deficit.

They did not and so, after Wild denied Hauraki – lucky to still be on after an ugly off-the-ball challenge on McGillvary – in a similar raid, Huddersfield settled and finished with a flurry.

Lunt rounded off his impressive afternoon's work with a crunching tackle on Rhys Hanbury which saw the badly shaken Crusaders scrum-half cough up possession.

Kevin Brown swiftly seized on the ball and ran in from 50 metres out, Danny Brough converting after Brett Hodgson had departed with a shoulder injury which will see the captain miss the trip to Leeds and possibly be out for up to a month.

In the final seconds, McGillvary secured his double with a 90-metre interception.

Brough could not improve but it mattered little. The real news yesterday, though, came off the pitch.

Huddersfield Giants: B. Hodgson, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Lawrence, D. Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, D. Griffin, Drew, Horne, Gilmour, Lunt, Wild. Substitutes: Crabtree, Faiumu, Patrick, Brough.

Crusaders RL: Schifcofske, Dyer, Martin, Mellars, Youngquest, Sammut, Hanbury, Bryant, Withers, Peek, Winternstein, Hauraki, Lupton. Substitutes: Lee, James, Thackray, Trimarchi.

Referee: James Child (Dewsbury).

MATCH FOCUS

Hero: Luke Robinson

Back in his favoured role of scrum-half, the little playmaker set the pace for Huddersfield, proved their most creative influence and offered leadership when captain Brett Hodgson departed with his injury.

Villain: Weller Hauraki

Crusaders' muscular New Zealand Maori second-row was the villain of the day for his crude off-the-ball challenge on an unsuspecting Jermaine McGillvary, who is pictured inset.

Verdict

Huddersfield delivered a much-needed response after their Castleford debacle but are still lacking the fluency of 2009 and stuttered until their late finish.

It can only be hoped that Nathan Brown's decision to stay on as Giants coach will now create a more stable atmosphere at the Galpharm and that the team can benefit.

Key moment: 72nd minute

Kevin Brown's try finally gave Huddersfield breathing space after Crusaders had threatened to hit back.

Next game

Super League: Friday, July 16: Leeds Rhinos (away) 8pm.

Quote of the day

Since we've made the decision, we've been happy so we know it's the right one.

– Huddersfield Giants coach Nathan Brown following his

U-turn about leaving the club.