5 Aug 2020

Takeaways: Giants 26-27 Rhinos

Looking back at the Giants golden-point loss in Week 1 of the restart.

Well, we're back, and think - some people just watched 65 minutes of that game and saw a confident, vibrant, side playing attacking rugby and being tough in defence against a true competitor for the playing, and winning, at Old Trafford in O̶c̶t̶o̶b̶e̶r̶ November. Those people will be really impressed with Huddersfield Giants and I think everyone associated with the Giants should be too.

But we watched 80 minutes, didn't we? So lets run through all the takeaways from the Giants one-point loss on Sunday. 

1. Focus on the positives, and take note of the context.

That was one hell of a game of Rugby League and this was two good sides. It was almost like a new game, or some would say this is a whole new game - with no scrums, faster restarts and the much-talked about 'Six-Again' rule. 

To adapt to these changes with 21 days notice, regain fitness and get the desired chemistry between squads that have had the longest enforced break of their careers is a testament to everyone involved on both sides.

2. Game changed as the situation changed. 

With any new situation, however, adaptation is key and unexpected circumstances often occur, most evidently injuries and the loss of players. Early on, Leeds lost Richie Myler and later lost James Donaldson forcing rearranges in the team, which had the effect of disrupting the tempo of their game, with Huddersfield taking full advantage. 

Later on, in the last 15 minutes, Leeds freed themselves a little bit, started to up the tempo and got back into the game while Huddersfield lost Jordan Turner and Aaron Murphy - two experienced players spread across the edges where the game saw all of the tries bar one, a Luke Gale effort late on. Shifting the players around and removing two key defensive players on the edges opened up the window for Leeds at the right time. 

3. 3 + 2 = a Headache for Simon Woolford.

An injury to Jermaine McGillvary handed Louis Senior a start on the wing with Darnell McIntosh occupying the other flank. To say that both took advantage of their start is a bit of an understatement. 

Darnell McIntosh's first hat-trick was a delightful one, and he comfortable and a real threat on the wing, on the opposite side, Louis Senior offered what he's offered throughout this season - excellent finishing and the ability to turn a tight situation into an attacking advantage with his speed and size. 

Now, depending on the fitness of McGillvary, the Giants have to look at three quality wingers for two positions. It helps that they're all flexible, but a lot of that rotation that has seen all three play has been due to the loss of Ashton Golding, but with the full-back here to occupy the Number 1 shirt, someone is going to have to miss out each week. 

4. The fight to prevent the 'Old' Huddersfield coming out. 

Simon Woolford said in his post match press conference that the last 15 minutes of the game were the 'Old' Huddersfield Giants and the first 65 were the 'New' Huddersfield Giants - and there more than an element of truth in that. Prior to the comeback, the Giants were tough and solid in defence, speedy and fluid in attack and with threats from everywhere. 

It might be a coincidence that our last Golden Point loss saw us have a 26-20 lead with a few minutes to go, but the comparisons with that side from 2019 aren't exactly apt. This side ran out of steam, are placed 4th in the table would have gone top with a win. Against Castleford, we were 9th, had already lost to Catalans and Salford, and had lost by 20 points to Leeds a few weeks before.

What isn't a coincidence is that exactly 365 days before, Huddersfield had just let 44 in, at home, without reply - this year, they dominated most of the game and were unlucky not to come away with the points. 

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