Wakefield Trinity 6 Huddersfield Giants 29: Sezer rules as Luke Robinson gets off to winning start

As an erstwhile scrum-half himself, Luke Robinson will have particularly enjoyed today’s performance from Huddersfield Giants captain Aidan Sezer.

Robinson, of course, suddenly found himself promoted from assistant to interim head coach of the West Yorkshire club yesterday after Simon Woolford’s hasty exit.

He would have had little time to impress too much on the squad but it mattered not as Sezer, their ‘marquee’ signing from Canberra Raiders, took full control to destroy hapless Wakefield Trinity and end a six-game losing run.

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The 29-year-old had starred early in the season when Woolford saw his Giants side top of Super League and, when it resumed after lockdown, it was understandable they struggled without the gifted Australian when he was nursing a hamstring strain.

Huddersfield Giants' Aidan Sezer celebrates his try (SWPIX)Huddersfield Giants' Aidan Sezer celebrates his try (SWPIX)
Huddersfield Giants' Aidan Sezer celebrates his try (SWPIX)

Here, Sezer was back to his controlling best and their West Yorkshire rivals had no answer as they suffered a sixth consecutive defeat.

He had already unleashed Leroy Cudjoe with one stellar, long pass before a subtle shorter one set fellow Australian Chris McQueen free to score his first try in only his second appearance since joining from Wests Tigers.

It was the variety and quality of that distribution that caused so many problems, something the 36-year-old former England No7 Robinson will certainly appreciate.

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Next, Sezer opted to run on the last tackle and created enough space for Suaia Matagi to crash over and - after seeing Jordan Turner’s drop goal make it 13-0 at half-time - he applied further pressure after the break.

Another short ball saw James Gavet too powerful for the Trinity goalline defence and then, in the next set and most cleverly of all, Sezer chipped over himself down the shortside before regathering for a fine solo try of his own.

Once Jake Wardle raced in for another try, Trinity were already well-beaten, and they were thankful that a try from Kelepi Tanginoa - who consistently remains their most impressive player - in the 62nd minute ensured they did not suffered a third scoreless outing in four games.

Huddersfield, in contrast, boasted excellent performances across the field, not least from young hooker Reiss Butterworth who made a confident first Super League start in a pack well led by Gavet, Michael Lawrence and Kenny Edwards.

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Ashton Golding was assured at full-back, Cudjoe showed flashes of his brilliance while Jordan Turner brought a steady hand at stand-off alongside talisman Sezer.

How Wakefield must wish they had such options to call upon.

Their last-play options were woeful and that, in part, was the reason for their failure to build any real pressure.

Teenage half-back Connor Bailey was only making his second Super League appearance so his uncertainty was understandable.

But Wakefield needed more from the more experienced Ryan Hampshire alongside him.

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When that did not come, at half-time, Chester switched Tony Gigot inside from his role as a replacement centre and moved Bailey to the wing but things did not improve.

As if to illustrate the point, when Sezer made his one, solitary handling mistake to gift Trinity rare field position, Gigot swiftly sent out a shoddy pass that was dropped, leaving frustrated team-mate Joe Westerman shaking his head and exchanging words with the Frenchman.

Wakefield had few clear-cut chances, Liam Kay making an early raid down the left flank only to suffer a shoulder injury when Sezer - who else? - got across to deny him.

On-loan London Broncos prop Eddie Battye got through plenty of work on debut and Westerman and Jay Pitts worked hard as ever, but their lack of ingenuity near the line was painful.

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In fairness, Huddersfield's defence was excellent on those rare occasions when it was tested.

It was already a strange experience - rugby league being played at 3pm on a Thursday afternoon and the ‘home’ team at Huddersfield being Wakefield.

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