Huddersfield Giants v Wigan Warriors: Saints win was clue to Giants’ success – Anderson

That is not through either bravado or arrogance but just from the simple fact he witnessed his squad had heeded his lessons and proved they were ready to fully embrace the former Great Britain prop’s ideas after his first pre-season in charge

If Huddersfield win against Wigan Warriors tonight in their qualifying play-off, the recently-crowned League Leaders’ Shield winners will move tantalisingly to within just 80 minutes of a maiden Grand Final.

It was an epic 30-12 table-topping victory at Wigan only last month that put the West Yorkshire club on an unbroken course to finishing top for the first time in 81 years and, therefore, could be viewed as the seminal moment.

But, for Anderson, it was that truly eye-catching 40-4 victory at St Helens way back on February 2 that illustrated to him this might be a momentous year and is, in his eyes, still their finest display yet.

It was the first time Huddersfield had won there since 1978 – maybe another sign this was going to be a significant time – and came against a Saints side playing their first game under Nathan Brown, who Anderson assisted for three years at Huddersfield until the Australian’s departure last July.

“It was round one for me,” he told the Yorkshire Post, when asked about the most significant fixture ahead of their biggest test to date.

“The players just showed real intent and bought into all the things we were trying to do.

“It showed that we’d righted the wrongs of the previous year of how we’d finished.

“It was plain to see I clearly wasn’t happy after that play-off defeat at Hull.

“But that Saints game showed that some of the things we’d done and the personnel we’d brought in had paid dividends.

“We’ve managed to keep that consistency most of the way through the year.

“We’ve not had a big change in personality – only three players arrived – but I would say it’s been a big change in mentality.

“We made a clear statement with the people that left, and those that we brought in, the areas we needed to fix up.”

Anyone witnessing irate Anderson’s demeanour following the meekest of play-off surrenders in that 46-10 loss at Hull last September should have realised then a sea change would occur in Huddersfield’s fortunes.

Certainly, no one can envisage them capitulating again in such a manner as these play-offs approach with them now the frontrunners.

Still, the 41-year-old will not let his side contemplate any sort of complacency; Wigan may appear in utter turmoil having lost four successive Super League games and with their captain Sean O’Loughlin hobbling around at Monday’s Dream Team announcement with a protective boot covering his problematic Achilles tendon.

But Anderson will have noticed, too, at that gathering that the likes of Sam Tomkins, Josh Charnley and Matty Smith are all fit and well so, for all Wigan’s leader is massively influential – they have lost all seven games the England loose forward has missed recently – they have enough wherewithal to deliver.

“They always play with some intensity,” he said. “You watched the game on Thursday night (Wigan’s 20-6 loss v Leeds) and there was a lot of intensity.

“Both (Wigan and Leeds) were out on their feet at the end having put everything into that game.

“It’s testament to them they can keep turning up and playing with that intensity. We’ve got to respect that this week.”

Huddersfield, of course, saw five of their players earn selection in the Dream Team and those – Danny Brough, Brett Ferres, Shaun Lunt, Eorl Crabtree and Leroy Cudjoe – will undoubtedly be central to their chances of progression this evening.

“The pleasing aspect is we’ve managed to change people’s attitude towards the Giants,” continued Anderson, given their previous title as vastly talented but serial under-achievers.

“Even now people are still thinking it’s the play-offs and we haven’t done anything yet.

“But we’ve managed to shut the media up all year and that’s our focus going in – keep proving people wrong.”

If they do win this evening they earn a week off and also the dubious honour of making ClubCall; picking their own semi-final opponents from a choice of two when it comes down to the last four. Huddersfield will get a second chance if Wigan do spring a surprise and there are those who feel playing each week can actually improve the chances of lifting the trophy at Old Trafford.