Jim Lenihan insists Huddersfield Giants' new mentality can survive defeat to Warrington Wolves

The Giants had won their previous four games after a run of 12 successive defeats but Lenihan was encouraged to see the mentality he has been trying to instil in his side remain intact.

"It was a measuring stick," he said following the clash with one of Super League's form teams.

"It's certainly one we're disappointed with. We're now thinking we probably could have won that game if a few things went a little bit better.

"But I'm really proud of the boys. There's a real mentality with the way we want to play our football now. We kept fighting through it and nearly bit them on the bum.

"The way we hung in there and took it right to the very end is a step in the right direction for us as a football club.

"We want to be a club that are proud of who we are and where we're from. We want to be a club that people are proud to be at and we want people who fight for us."

Huddersfield had the advantage of a longer turnaround than Warrington, who travelled to Hull KR in midweek.

But Lenihan wants his side to keep embracing the same mentality, even when it does not immediately translate into results.

"We played a quality side in Warrington," he added.

"Yeah, they've played whatever amount of games in whatever days but they're still a quality side, a fit side, a physical side. For big parts of the game, we really competed with them and probably let ourselves down with some of our detail.

"That's a good thing. It's okay not to get it right. We're not fearing failure. We got some things wrong that we can work on and improve.

"Our physicality and want to compete were there. That's the biggest work-on we've made since I came here."

While Huddersfield fought to the end at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, wooden spoon rivals Bradford Bulls were booed off after conceding 48 second-half points in Friday's 62-10 drubbing by Leigh Leopards.

Kurt Haggerty expects the injury-ravaged Bulls to be a different proposition next season but accepts they cannot afford to wait until then to improve.

"I get it, I absolutely get it," said the Bradford boss, who are behind the second-bottom Giants on points difference with three rounds remaining. "They've got every right to be frustrated.

"For the majority of games, we've had a dig, we've competed and we've never given in. There were moments in that game where it just didn't look like us but please stick with us.

"We'll keep fighting and we'll keep going. I think you only have to see the way we've recruited for next year to see that it'll look different. This team and this club will look a whole lot different next year.

"I can't make any excuses for it and I won't let them make any excuses for it. I won’t let this group just dip and fall. We've spoken about blokes being in trenches and fighting their way out. We've got to fight our way out."