Huddersfield 44-4 Warrington: Giants run in eight tries in home romp

Match stats: Huddersfield 44-4 Warrington

Huddersfield tries: Roberts (6), McGillvary (27, 62), Murphy (32, 75), Clough (45), Turner (49), Mamo (58)
Goals: Brough (6, 45, 49, 58, 62, 75)

Warrington try: Lineham (54) 

Match report

Jordan Turner marked his Huddersfield debut with a try as the Giants cruised to a 44-4 victory over Warrington at the John Smith's Stadium.

Turner left St Helens at the end of last season to move to NRL side the Canberra Raiders on a two-year contract but the 28-year-old stand-off cut his stay short in Australia to join Rick Stone's team last week and he made an instant impact.

His score was one of eight tries Huddersfield ran in as they brushed aside a weary Wolves side - who looked to be feeling the effects of their third match in nine days - to leapfrog their opponents into ninth place in the Betfred Super League table.

A third successive heavy defeat also further turns the heat up on long-serving Wolves boss Tony Smith, who began his 17-year coaching career at Huddersfield.

Refreshed from a nine-day rest, the Giants got on the scoreboard after just five minutes when they took advantage of a penalty on Warrington's 20-metre line despite deciding not to kick from in front of the posts.

A powerful drive from prop Sebastine Ikahihifo put the hosts within three metres of the try line before Oliver Roberts somehow touched down under pressure from four Warrington defenders.

Roberts was just metres away from scoring his second try of the match before Warrington had their first meaningful attack in the 24th minute when former Giants half-back Kevin Brown was denied just inches from the line, which Huddersfield took advantage of in their next set.

Giants captain Danny Brough was held up over the line by the scrambling defence of three Wolves defenders but they could not prevent the intelligent play from hooker Kruise Leeming, who played a short-side pass to winger Jermaine McGillvary (pictured) to dot down in the corner and put the Giants 10-0 ahead.

Tom Lineham was hauled into touch by Leroy Cudjoe with the whitewash in sight in another rare Warrington attack before the home side extended their lead seven minutes before the half-time interval.

An offload from Cudjoe sent Ryan Hinchcliffe through and, although he was thwarted by a try-saving tackle from Kevin Penny, a swift play from right-to-leftsent Aaron Murphy over in the corner to put Huddersfield 14-0 up at the break.

Brough failed to gather his own high kick with the line at his mercy in the first set of the second half but it did not take long for Huddersfield to move further ahead. Another short pass from Leeming found Paul Clough in support and barged his way over to help the Giants move 20-0 up.

Huddersfield further strengthened their grip on proceedings in the 49th minute when debutant Turner walked his way over the line after getting on the end of a neat offload from second row Dale Ferguson to score the Giants' fifth try.

Australian full-back Jake Mamo thought he had extended Huddersfield's lead with a breakaway try, but referee Chris Kendall chalked it off for an earlier infringement, which Warrington capitalised on to send Lineham in the corner to finally get on the scoreboard after 54 minutes.

However, Mamo got his deserved try four minutes later when Cudjoe sent McGillvary free on the right before the winger found the supporting full-back to cross for Huddersfield's sixth of the match, with Brough - who successfully converted six of his kicks in the match - adding the extras to make it 32-4.

Warrington's misery did not end there, though, with Huddersfield adding two more tries before the finish.

McGillvary crossed for his second score of the match following a great looping pass from Lee Gaskell before Turner sent Murphy over for his brace to seal an emphatic victory over a depleted Wolves. 

Match reaction

Warrington head coach Tony Smith refused to get drawn into the player welfare row: "Let's not start that debate, I don't want to go and make excuses. We had two matches last weekend and that was obvious.

"I said what I needed to say last week and the whys and what-fors but well done to Huddersfield - they were the better team and I would rather say that and congratulate them than take anything away from their performance."

On his side's poor defensive display: "If you are a Warrington fan at the moment, it's tough to watch, it's tough to participate in as well and it's hurting the boys. They are hurting about their performance and we haven't really recovered since the Magic Weekend and it's damaged our confidence.

"Some of our defence close to our try line just isn't strong enough, when your opponents opt to go for points rather than the shot at goal then it tells you something about your defence. Huddersfield got it right today.

"We came here with some high hopes and came here anticipating a good win so yeah absolutely, we are disappointed."

Huddersfield coach Rick Stone on his side's third win in five games: "At 14-0 I said: 'Look, if we keep working hard then things will open up for us and things might get a little easier. We probably played too many errors in the second half and played a bit like the Harlem Globetrotters at times which frustrated me a bit but it was good to see them enjoy going in front and going in for the kill a little bit.

"I know Warrington are down a little bit on troops and they are a bit banged up with the short turnaround but I suppose through this year we have had plenty of that ourselves so it's good to see us take advantage of an opportunity for a change.

"We probably just gave something back towards our home crowd. We haven't been good to our home crowd this year, we have disappointed them several times. Hopefully they walked away with a smile on their face today."

On Jordan Turner's debut: "Looking at Jordan, he has a little bit of class. He can definitely draw a pass and get his winger into space if he gets that half-opportunity.

"He did that a couple of times for Murph (Aaron Murphy), I think Murph will have a good time sitting outside Jordan Turner in the future. He will be happy to get that 80 minutes out of the way."