After last week’s historic victory at Wigan, Adrian Lam’s team finally made sure they didn’t collapse after falling behind 10–6 early in the second half.
Due to St Helens’ enormously favorable points differential, the Leopards are currently one of just four teams with a perfect winning record following the first two rounds.
In windy and rainy weather, they weren’t quite ideal, and the Giants managed to stay in the game until the very end without posing a threat to duplicate their victory at LSV a year prior.
However, following a strong showing and Friday’s home game against the winless Catalan Dragons, there won’t be many complaints from the Leopards.
After the 1-0 golden point victory against Wigan, Leopards supporters didn’t need any more encouragement for the season’s opening home game.
However, expectations were raised before the game when it was announced that Edwin Ipape had signed a six-year contract.
The Papua New Guinea favorite on the bench
Lam made just one change to his 17-man roster at Wigan, starting the Papua New Guinea favorite on the bench. Bailey Hodgson replaced Josh Charnley Leigh, who was injured, and it took just eight minutes for the Giants to make a handling blunder to put them ahead. Lam talked eloquently during Keanan Brand’s pre-game buildup.
With a clean finish from Lachlan Lam’s looped pass for Leigh’s first Super League try of 2025, the winger further validated the accolades.
Gareth O’Brien, the hero of the drop goal, missed the extras from the start. Armstrong gave Huddersfield their first attacking opportunity with a knock-on and an offside penalty.
Surprise lead was given to Huddersfield by George Flanagan’s conversion
Oliver Wilson surged over the defensive line to touch down Zach Woolford’s grubber, and they took full advantage of the situation. A surprise lead was given to Huddersfield by George Flanagan’s conversion.
Ipape entered the game before to the restart, and the Leopards definitely needed a boost. Leroy Cudjoe knocked on the second tackle after Tui Lolohea’s 40-20 put the Giants back in the danger zone.
Huddersfield extended their lead
However, four minutes prior to halftime, Huddersfield extended their lead. Ipape’s tip tackle on Matty English following an Alec Tuitavake blunder led to a successful Flanagan penalty.
Leigh was on track to fall behind by four points. Instead, O’Brien kicked a penalty after the captain successfully challenged for a midfield obstruction.
- BREAKING: Chicago Bears Shake Up NFL with Blockbuster Acquisitions of Tyler Lockett and Amari Cooper After Dominant Wins Over Raiders and Saints
- Sha’Carri Richardson Among First to Test Nike’s Groundbreaking Recovery Footwear, the Hyperboot
- Chicago Bears’ Star Tight End Traded to Falcons in Record-Breaking Deal; Arizona Cardinals Tight End Joins Bears in Major Shake-Up
- Paddy Pimblett Eyes Conor McGregor Showdown at Wembley, but McGregor Dismisses the Idea
- Sebastian Vettel Tipped as Helmut Marko’s Ideal Successor at Red Bull: A New Chapter Looms
Forty seconds after halftime, there was another challenge, but this time Jack Hughes was found guilty of a loose carry rather than an unlawful ball steal.
After Isaac Liu promptly gave up a penalty, Flanagan increased the lead to 10–6. After Leigh leveled four minutes later, Armstrong dived over in the corner after arrowing on to O’Brien’s offload.
Attempt at a conversion was missed.
After 52 minutes, O’Brien put the Leopards ahead after English removed Lam from the ball after another attempt at a conversion was missed. Huddersfield rarely visited Leigh territory, and when Leopards scored a crucial third try 13 minutes from the end, any prospect of an away victory vanished.
Matty Davis carried the ball back over the tryline after Elliot Wallis knocked on in front of his own posts, but the four points had to be awarded by a video referee call. O’Brien’s third goal put Leigh ahead by two goals.
Armstrong may have doubled his own try total, and Leigh wasn’t done yet. He chose to pass to center Niu instead, who landed triumphantly in front of the North Stand.
Leigh: Armstrong; Brand, Niu, Hanley, Hodgson; O’Brien, Lam; Trout, Dwyer, Mulhern, Halton, O’Neill, Liu; Hughes, Tuitavake, Davis, and Ipape as substitutes.
Tries: Niu (76), Davis (66), Armstrong (44), and Brand (8).
O’Brien 4/7 goals.
Huddersfield Giants:
Wilson, Woolford, Burgess, Murchie, Greenwood, Cudjoe; substitutes: Golding; Gagai; Swift, Bibby, Hewitt, Wallis; Lolohea, Flanagan
Wilson (22) tries.
Flanagan 3/3 is the goal.
Marcus Griffiths is the referee.
6–8 at halftime.
8,440 people were present.
Leave a Reply