Aggressive style works for rookie Huddersfield Giants coach as Leeds Rhinos chief laments draw

It was Chris Thorman’s first game in caretaker charge following Rick Stone’s dismissal three days earlier.

His team led 12-0 early on and 22-16 inside the final five minutes, but a late converted try denied them what would have been a famous win.

Thorman admitted he gave his team the “hairdryer” treatment before the game and felt that tactic paid off. He said: “I haven’t done anything specific with them in terms of coaching and gameplan and whatnot.

“I just wanted some emotional buy-in and I wanted them to realise they’ve let a lot of people down over the last month or two.

“I ripped into them before the game and maybe that’s what this team needs at the minute.

“If they need someone to motivate them in terms of getting in their face and giving them the hairdryer, that’s what I’ll do.

“They did respond well and I am proud of what they’ve done, but I can’t help but think ‘why’s it taken someone to get sacked to do it’?”

Thorman described it as a “more assured, confident performance”, but admitted: “We didn’t get the win though and I’ve said we need to start chalking up some wins. I thought we had the opportunity to win that game and we didn’t.”

For Leeds coach Brian McDermott, the draw his side’s first since a 24-24 result at Huddersfield three years ago – “felt like a loss”.

He said: “I don’t think we were enterprising enough, there was some good stuff, but I think we had too many dead moments with the ball.”

And he added: “Huddersfield had a reason to be good and the question is why weren’t they that good – that enthusiastic – in previous weeks?”