Wigan 32 Huddersfield 8: Giants come up short again as Wigan prove too powerful

Paul Anderson’s side, vanquished 57-4 at Wigan in last season’s play-offs, fought more valiantly in last night’s semi-final, but a maiden Grand Final still irritatingly eludes them.

At the next Super League meeting, perhaps the West Yorkshire club’s powers-that-be should propose a return to the first-past-the-post system of deciding the league title.

Of course, it would never happen, but with a dozen defeats now from just 15 play-off games, maybe finishing first – like they did two years ago – is the only way they will be hailed champions again for the first time since 1962.

Having lost a second Super League semi-final in three seasons, it means it is Wigan who press on to next Saturday’s Old Trafford showpiece against the winners of tonight’s game between Leeds Rhinos and St Helens.

You have to wonder how much last Friday’s agonising loss to Leeds wounded Anderson’s side ahead of this crucial contest.

That last-second 20-16 defeat not only saw Leeds pip Wigan to the League Leaders’ Shield but – when Huddersfield squandered a 77th-minute lead of their own – meant they were denied second spot and a home tie against Rhinos instead of this trip across the Pennines. Furthermore, it ruined their momentum given they were on a five-game winning run.

Or, perhaps, that is all folly and Wigan – so slick, purposeful and determined – were simply too good as they secured a fourth win over Giants this year as they push on and look to avenge last season’s final defeat to bitter rivals Saints.

Certainly, the naive visitors must somehow learn to start producing such stellar performances at this time of year.

Huddersfield, who welcomed back some experience to their bench in Eorl Crabtree and Chris Bailey, trailed just 12-2 at half-time but were already finished by the time John Bateman claimed his second try on 55 minutes.

Giants had conceded a soft try – on so many fronts – in the fifth minute and never really looked like getting back into the game.

Aaron Murphy made the first of a raft of uncharacteristic errors by unsuccessfully trying to make dead Matt Bowen’s kick and, from the drop-out, Wigan struck.

Ben Flower, banned for six months following his infamous attack on Lance Hohaia at last year’s Grand Final, angled back onto Matty Smith’s inside pass and fended off Jake Connor’s feeble attempted tackle to score.

Bowen added the conversion and should have been doing likewise when paper-thin Giants were penetrated once more in the restart set, young centre Oliver Gildart embarrassing England international Leroy Cudjoe but Liam Farrrell keeping hold of the ball when he had support either side before Scott Grix enveloped him.

So, the hosts’ further scores were initially restricted to just an 18th-minute Bowen penalty after a senseless infringement from Craig Kopczak, the prop who should know better after his similarly futile shoulder charge late on last Friday saw Leeds level.

It was not that the visitors were starved of possession as they had ample, but they played either too laterally or coughed up ball too cheaply.

Connor – who endured a troubled night after being recalled at centre to facilitate Joe Wardle’s switch to second-row – and Grix both wasted overlap opportunities, the latter generally swallowed up all too easily by the commanding Bateman who must surely earn a call-up to the England squad against the Kiwis next month.

The former Bradford second-row, again playing centre last night, strengthened his cause with another try after Murphy slipped, allowing Dom Manfredi to take Sam Powell’s high kick and feed the scorer in the 34th minute.

Huddersfield were just thankful for Danny Brough’s penalty with the last kick of the half after Jamie Ellis’s ingenuity had almost furnished Jermaine McGillvary with a try.

Brett Ferres was held up over the Wigan goalline by great defence early in the second period and then Gildart and Joe Burgess combined brilliantly again to deny McGillvary in the corner.

It was a critical point as, moments later, great execution from Wigan saw Manfredi – the winger celebrating his 22nd birthday after England star Josh Charnley was dropped – finish wide out for Bowen to make it 18-2.

When Jack Hughes, Huddersfield’s loanee from Wigan, dropped another ball in good position, they were in again.

Eventually, Grix tripped Bateman to deny the Yorkshireman getting a clear finish, but the video officials ruled penalty try regardless and Bowen heaped on the misery with a conversion and another penalty goal soon after.

Ferres ensured Huddersfield did not go home tryless when he powered onto Brough’s short ball for his captain to convert, but Tony Clubb scored in the last minute for Bowen to finish with seven goals.

Wigan Warriors: Bowen; Manfredi, Bateman. Gildart, Burgess; Williams, Smith; Crosby, McIlorum, Flower, J Tomkins, L Farrell, O’Loughlin. Substitutes: Powell, Clubb, Mossop, Patrick.

Huddersfield Giants: Grix; McGillvary, Cudjoe, Connor, Murphy; Brough, Ellis; Kopczak, Robinson, Huby, Wardle, Hughes, Ferres. Substitutes: Crabtree, Bailey, Lawrence, Ta’ai.

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield).