Toronto Wolfpack earn spot in New York draw with win at Huddersfield Giants

Samoa international Ricky Leutele scored the only tries of the match as Toronto Wolfpack became the first team through to the sixth round of the Coral Challenge Cup thanks to an 18-0 win over Huddersfield.
By YP Sport
Published 11th Mar 2020, 21:58 BST
Held up: Huddersfield Giants’ Jake Wardle is tackled by two Toronto Wolfpack players as the Canadian side got their first win. (Picture: PA)Held up: Huddersfield Giants’ Jake Wardle is tackled by two Toronto Wolfpack players as the Canadian side got their first win. (Picture: PA)
Held up: Huddersfield Giants’ Jake Wardle is tackled by two Toronto Wolfpack players as the Canadian side got their first win. (Picture: PA)

Leutele touched down twice in the first 10 minutes to put the Canadians on their way to a first win as a Super League club and earn themselves a place in Monday’s New York draw alongside the top eight clubs from 2019.

Huddersfield are flying high in Super League with four wins from their first five matches, all away from home, but they were brought down to earth five days after beating champions St Helens on their own ground.

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Toronto’s victory, which followed six straight defeats at the start of their inaugural season in Super League, was achieved without former All Black Sonny Bill Williams and ex-England loose forward Jon Wilkin while coach Brian McDermott opted to keep three of his four substitutes on the bench for the entire 80 minutes.

Toronto Wolfpack's Ricky Leutele scores his second try (Picture: PA)Toronto Wolfpack's Ricky Leutele scores his second try (Picture: PA)
Toronto Wolfpack's Ricky Leutele scores his second try (Picture: PA)

It is a tactic rarely used but front rowers Gadwin Springer, Adam Sidlow and Anthony Mullally all played long minutes as the Toronto pack mastered both the wet and windy conditions and the Giants forwards. Six days after conceding 11 tries to Leeds in a 66-12 mauling, the Wolfpack kept their opponents point-less with a performance that belied their earlier struggles.

They were boosted by the return of centre Chase Stanley for his first appearance of the season following a delayed return from Australia and especially stand-off Joe Mellor, who was outstanding on his return from a four-match absence with a hand injury.

This was technically a home game for the Wolfpack who agreed to play their matches away as part of their return to the competition, and they made the most of favourable conditions at the John Smith’s Stadium.

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Leutele was a handful for the Giants defence all night and made his mark after just two minutes, finishing off a half-break by full-back Gareth O’Brien to claim his first try.

Toronto Wolfpack's Chase Stanley is tackled during the Challenge Cup match at the John Smith's Stadium (Picture: PA)Toronto Wolfpack's Chase Stanley is tackled during the Challenge Cup match at the John Smith's Stadium (Picture: PA)
Toronto Wolfpack's Chase Stanley is tackled during the Challenge Cup match at the John Smith's Stadium (Picture: PA)

Eight minutes later the former Cronulla favourite timed his run perfectly to touch down skipper Josh McCrone’s dabbed kick for his second try.

O’Brien converted both and added two penalty goals to stretch his side’s lead to 16-0 by the break.

Even with the wind and rain at their backs in the second half, Huddersfield could make little impression on the hard-working Toronto defence and the only additional points came from O’Brien with his third penalty goal as Huddersfield were nilled and eliminated.

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Leeds Rhinos have secured Cameron Smith on a new three-year contract that will keep him at Headingley until at least the end of 2023.

The 21-year-old back-row forward made his Super League debut as a teenager in 2016 and has become a regular in Richard Agar’s side this season.

Smith joined the Rhinos from school.

Related topics:Super LeagueHuddersfieldNew YorkGareth O'BrienBrian McDermott