Huddersfield needed a late goal from centre-back Jack Cogger to secure a 17-16 win and deny unlucky club Toulouse their first away win in the Super League; two efforts from winger Innes Senior helped relieve Huddersfield’s blush
Last Updated: 5/20/22 11:46 pm
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Highlights of the Betfred Super League match between Huddersfield Giants and Toulouse
Highlights of the Betfred Super League match between Huddersfield Giants and Toulouse
Australian Jack Cogger returned from a three-match ban to play a key role in the Huddersfield Giants’ final thrilling win over bottom-of-the-table Super League club Toulouse.
A week after the Challenge Cup final, the Giants were ahead for most of the game and trailed 16-6 when Matty Russell scored Toulouse’s third goal in the first five minutes of the second half.
However, two efforts from winger Innes Senior helped free the blushing Huddersfield and broke the hearts of the French visitors.
“It was a huge event for Jack,” said Giants head coach Ian Watson. “He likes to practice them in training and they don’t always pass.
“The main thing was getting results but we were really sloppy in the first half. We were another team in the second half but, if we want to be a top team, we can’t give up. a week before the national cup final”. We will learn a lot from this.
“Maybe we were thinking about next week. It’s always a worry when you’ve never been in a cup final before. Everyone wants to get through this game.
“But I don’t want to take anything away from Toulouse. I think they played very well, especially in the first half.
“Corey Norman has added to them and he will be a big plus for them going forward.”
It was an underwhelming performance from Watson’s team and they suffered an injury threat ahead of next Saturday’s game against Wigan at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as full-back Oliver Russell was forced to miss the competition. match after 21 minutes.
Huddersfield is only missing Theo Fages and second rower Chris McQueen on the team that is likely to reach the national cup final, although Cogger, who is back from a three-match suspension, may have his chance next week. come if Russell is disqualified.
France got off to a bad start with Lucas Albert playing at full power and repeating the error after testing Huddersfield’s first half, but Toulouse’s tactical play was overall impressive as they let the hosts get their hold at half-time. their one in the long run. of the first half.
They took the lead after six minutes when Albert’s hammer kick fooled Tui Lolohea and allowed former Huddersfield full-back Olly Ashall-Bott to drop down in the first attempt of the game, which Chris Hankinson scored.
The Giants equalized 10 minutes later when second-rower Sam Hewitt touched on Lolohea’s delicate pass and the full-back added a conversion.
The French side, highlighted by a bold win over Wakefield, regained the lead midway through the first half when defender Romain Navarette crossed a gap in the Huddersfield line and blocked his pursuers on the way. galloped 40 yards for a remarkable solo, with Hankinson scoring a 12-6 lead.
Russell’s loss forced a reshuffle at Huddersfield’s defence, with Ashton Golding coming in at full-back and Lolohea moving into two halves, but their defensive problems continued early in the half. two when Russell cut in from the wing. to catch them on the wrong foot and pass by to try.
The score was 16-6 but the Giants ultimately retained possession long enough to keep their opponents under constant pressure.
Cogger’s 40-20 kick gave his side a perfect attacking platform and busy hooker Danny Levi was saved while both Joe Greenwood and Luke Yates were narrowly saved.
The pressure finally eased when centre-back Ricky Leutele made a sweet pass for Senior to pass on his first try and Lolohea’s touchdown switch cut the deficit to four points. .
Toulouse appeared to have been sidelined in the final quarter-final and it was no surprise when Senior scored a second, this time thanks to a Golding pass, to level the score eight minutes into the match.
Lolohea opened the door wide in an attempt to convert a chance but Huddersfield took the lead for the first time five minutes later with a Cogger strike to seal their eighth win of the season.
