Warrington Wolves 30 Huddersfield Giants 22: Giants come up just short of first final after fighting right to finish

Huddersfield Giants’ wait to reach the Grand Final goes on, but no longer can they be described as ‘chokers’.

By Dave Craven at Halliwell Jones Stadium Friday, 27th September 2013, 8:54 am

Disappointment for Danny Brough.

Last night Paul Anderson’s side lost a ninth successive game to their nemesis Warrington Wolves to be denied a place at their first Old Trafford showdown a week tomorrow.

But the League Leaders Shield winners – who have not won a league title since 1962 – gave everything in a thoroughly compelling play-off semi-final to show they are closing in on their ultimate target.

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Warrington, who will face the winners of tonight’s game between Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos in the Grand Final, had to hold on at the finish as the West Yorkshire club almost made them pay for daring to choose them in ClubCall.

Huddersfield’s Dale Ferguson bustled over for a try that cut the deficit to just two points with nine minutes remaining, but Simon Grix calmed the hosts’ nerves with his second try soon after to raise hopes of the Cheshire club’s own first championship since 1955.

Regardless, there was none of the embarrassment of Huddersfield’s Challenge Cup exit here in July, or a 47-0 play-off annihilation two years ago, and their season as a whole has to be saluted.

They have brought a breath of fresh air to the Super League competition, undoubtedly breaking into the upper echelons with a brand of football which has proved exciting and entertaining.

Whereas before setbacks like this have drawn ample doubting of their credentials, the only question now is when, rather than if, they will lift silverware.

It is easy to see them improving on this next season, just as Warrington clearly have in reaching a second successive Grand Final, and Anderson will surely be crowned Super League coach of the year on Monday night after his side finished top for the first time since 1932.

Last night, though, after going all season with so few injuries, bad luck finally hit them hard. Full-back Scott Grix failed to overcome a groin problem picked up in the 76-18 thrashing of Hull FC and was replaced by 18-year-old Jake Connor, who made only his second senior appearance.

In fairness, the youngster impressed with a confidently-taken try but, more costly, however, was the loss of England second-row Brett Ferres, who departed with a first-half neck and shoulder injury which thankfully should not jeopardise his World Cup chances.

Indeed, Huddersfield endured a costly 60 seconds towards the end of the first half when he was injured and then – even though Lee Briers had an effort ruled out after dummying through just short – Warrington extended their lead to eight points.

Unusually, it came from an error from Leroy Cudjoe, who has hardly put a foot wrong all year.

The England centre badly failed to deal with Richie Myler’s bobbling kick and it ricocheted into the welcoming hands of Grix ensuring at least one of the Halifax brothers had a good evening.

Stefan Ratchford added his third conversion to make it 18-10 at the interval and they had just enough wherewithal and grittiness to ensure they get a chance to atone for last year’s Old Trafford loss against Leeds.

They had started ominously well, with the sort of power, pace and precision they had displayed in that Challenge Cup showing two months previously.

Joel Monaghan scored as early as the third minute after Ferres was pulled up for interference trying to prevent Mickey Higham scoot away, something the livewire Warrington hooker would do too often as the night progressed.

Slick handling from Briers, Ratchford and, especially so, Bridge squeezed the Australian winger in at the corner and Ratchford converted impressively.

They were soon pressing again so Huddersfield were pleased to see Danny Brough make a timely intercept of Myler’s pass to race 50m. Soon after, the Huddersfield captain was over for their opening try in the eighth minute, albeit off a fortuitous rebound from Luke Robinson’s grubber.

The Man of Steel candidate added the extras before showing his defensive prowess with a crucial tackle on Bridge after Aaron Murphy had spilled Briers’s spiralling kick.

Huddersfield showed confidence by turning down a kickable penalty, but it amounted to nothing and they still struggled to contain Warrington’s muscular forwards up front, who consistently provided quick ball.

However, Connor scored against the run of play, slicing over nicely and showing great strength in the 22nd minute.

Monaghan added his second, though, after another slick piece of skill from ex-Huddersfield centre Bridge and then came that expensive spell just before the interval.

Brough and Murphy did brilliantly to deny Joel Monaghan his hat-trick soon after the restart, but there was no escape in the 45th minute when a lofted kick by Briers to the other side saw Ryan Atkins time his run to perfection before leaping in front of Jermaine McGillvary to collect and touch down.

Ratchford improved but McGillvary soon made up for his indecision when he latched onto Robinson’s long pass and held off the scrambling cover to score in the corner five minutes later.

Brough curled his kick in from the touchline only to see Bradford-bound colleague Ferguson then frustratingly concede a needless high tackle on Chris Riley in front of the Warrington posts which saw the Scotland forward put on report.

From there, experienced Warrington – who left out veteran ex-Giants captain Brett Hodgson – generally held the upper hand but Huddersfield were stubborn and resilient, earning a reward when Ferguson showed great footwork to step past Bridge and bulldoze his way over with nine minutes remaining. Brough’s third kick brought the margin to just two points but Grix added that late finish.

Warrington: Ratchford; Riley, Bridge, Atkins, J Monaghan; Briers, Myler; Wood, Higham, Hill, Grix, Westwood, Harrison. Substitutes: Morley, M Monaghan, Carvell, Cooper.

Huddersfield: Connor; McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy; B rough, Robinson; Crabtree, Lunt, Kopczak, Ferres, Chan, Lawrence. Substitutes: Patrick, Ta’ai, Ferguson, Wood.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Mirfield).