IMPRESSIVE Huddersfield Giants clearly put forward their title credentials last night as they overcame an ill-disciplined Warrington Wolves to usurp the Engage Super League leaders in a brutal encounter.

On an evening when champions Wigan also suffered a crushing 47-28 home defeat to struggling Catalan – they head to Hull KR on Friday seeking a first win in four games – Nathan Brown’s team flew the flag for Yorkshire by easing into pole position following a performance rich in character and skill.

Ignoring a series of sickening high challenges from their rattled opponents who could easily have seen ex-England captain Adrian Morley and David Solomona dismissed, Huddersfield took command to continue their recent dominance over the Challenge Cup holders.

Just as they did during their opening day win in Cardiff, and last season’s play-off success at Halliwell Jones Stadium, the well-organised Giants defended with passion, Australian loose forward Luke O’Donnell an imposing presence throughout, while dissecting the visitors courtesy of more brilliance from England hooker Luke Robinson, captain Kevin Brown and the increasingly striking Jermaine McGillvary.

Even their influential former captain Brett Hodgson, making his first return to the Galpharm, was powerless to prevent Huddersfield’s march, his two first-half tries rendered worthless as his old colleagues easily shut out the muddled Cheshire outfit in the second period.

Warrington sorely missed the organisational quality of injured Lee Briers, inept deputy Chris Bridge proving he may be an England centre but certainly not a stand-off, but it was Huddersfield’s aggression in defence which caused so many of their opponents’ problems forming the foundation for their seventh win of the season.

They established an 18-10 interval lead which should have been more given their dominance, breathless Warrington needing Hodgson to slice over just before the break to keep them in it.

Huddersfield struck after just four minutes, Brown’s long pass too easily giving Leroy Cudjoe enough space to suck in Rhys Evans and feed McGillvary whose clever kick back infield bounced perfectly for Scott Grix who was doing what any decent full-back should do.

Brough improved but, after Lee Gilmour wasted a glorious overlap opportunity, knocking on in his own half, Warrington made them pay immediately.

Bridge’s crossfield kick was miscued but Joel Monaghan rescued it for Matty Blythe to kick infield, Joel Monaghan doing brilliantly to pick up and send Hodgson scrambling over.

The ex-Man of Steel converted his own score but was needed to desperately scramble across and palm Brown’s kick dead after some fine build-up work from the mighty O’Donnell.

Morley earned a reputation as a hot-headed young prop but those days seemed long gone and it has been some time since the now esteemed forward has delivered such a crude high tackle as the one that left McGillvary bloodied and dazed in the 15th minute.

The young England Knights winger recovered sufficiently to go on and deliver another robust display, gaining his seventh try of the year to finish Warrington off, but Morley’s team-mates seemed intent on following their captain’s ill-disciplined lead.

Louis Anderson went head-hunting for a five-minute spell while Solomona was lucky to escape a card in the second period when he launched himself at the hard-running Larne Patrick.

Earlier, Bridge’s wild pass to Hodgson put Warrington back under more pressure and Brough’s chip saw the doomed Hodgson gang-tackled behind his own line for another drop out.

From there, a lovely-timed short pass from Robinson sent Patrick charging to the line in the 22nd minute and they extended their lead 10 minutes later

After Brough’s kick was charged down, Huddersfield laid siege once more following a fantastic weaving run from Scott Grix, Robinson exposing weak line defence to dive over from dummy half, his fourth try in as many games since returning from injury.

Brough added his third conversion before Hodgson’s second try – the Australia arcing over in customary fashion out wide – but Huddersfield dominated the second period.

McGillvary, a powerful and forceful runner, was denied a perfectly good try eight minutes after the re-start when Brown tipped Grix’s lofted pass over to the winger only to see it pulled back for a forward pass.

Solomona ran over to Patrick immediately to apologise to his former Bradford team-mate after that high tackle and Richard Silverwood opted against a card but Brough did not let him off by slotting the penalty.

When Ben Westwood ripped possession off Patrick in a two-man tackle, Brough made it 22-10 approaching the final quarter of the match.

When he tagged on a drop goal in the 63rd minute, Warrington heads visibly dropped and it was left to the deserving McGillvary to finish the job late on, latching on to another exquisite pinpoint Brown pass, Brough landing the touchline conversion.

Nathan Brown got his tactics and selection right once more – internationals Darrell Griffin and David Hodgson were left out but Patrick certainly made the most of his chance – and they head to Leeds on Friday with a growing sense of belief.

Huddersfield: Grix; McGillvary, Cudjoe, Lawrence, Simpson; Brown, Brough; Crabtree, Robinson, Raleigh, Gilmour, Ferguson, O’Donnell. Substitutes: Lunt, Faiumu, Patrick, Kirmond.

Warrington: Hodgson; J Monaghan, Blythe Atkins, Evans; Bridge, Myler; Morley, M Monaghan, Carvell, Anderson, Westwood, Harrison. Substitutes: Clarke, Wood, Cooper, Solomona.

Referee: R Silverwood (Mirfield).

source: Yorkshire Post