NOBODY would have predicted table-topping Wolves being ‘nilled’ by basement dwellers Huddersfield Giants.

But Paul Anderson’s underperforming side, third-place finishers last year, were rewarded for sticking to their guns in the torrential rain, while Wolves were punished for getting their tactics wrong.

Scotland international Danny Brough, who kicked Warrington to death twice last year, repeated the dose on Friday as Huddersfield dominated territory and possession to eventually wear down Tony Smith’s side.

It was exactly the right way to play wet-weather rugby, with a mix of touch finders and perfectly placed little grubber kicks on the slippery surface that earned repeat sets thus tiring out the visitors with defensive work.

But Wire did things differently, fatally.

Their more adventurous style of play, particularly in the first half, bore no fruit due to handling mistakes – and the gifts of possession were manna from heaven for Brough to take an early command he never lost.

Perhaps long-range breaks from Kevin Penny and Ben Currie in the opening sets gave Wolves’ players the impression that the try-scoring floodgates would open without having to pile on pressure on a Huddersfield side lacking in confidence.

But as Wire handling errors and missed opportunities mounted, so did Huddersfield’s belief as they sniffed a second win of the season.

Wolves needed an experienced hand to take a grip and rein in the play, but nobody put their hand up.

Strong defence kept Wolves in the game until late on, history keeping alive hope that Smith's men would find a way to dig out two last-gasp tries in response to efforts from Aaron Murphy and Leroy Cudjoe.

But frustration grew for The Wire and although three repeat sets were forced in the second half there were two spillages at play-the-balls and a kick out on the full that counteracted the improvements.

Attacking shape started to look bedraggled at times, particularly during Daryl Clark’s absence when a raft of changes following Stefan Ratchford's switch to hooker appeared to leave Wolves rudderless.

Rhys Evans, replacing the dropped Tom Lineham on the wing, was held up over the line after gathering a Gidley kick and it was as close as Wire came to threatening Huddersfield’s dominance.

INTERESTING NOTES.

Lowest scoring match involving Wire since February 17, 1991, when winning 8-1 at Ryedale-York in a Challenge Cup tie. The last league game with a lower total score was a 6-2 home loss to Widnes on December 26, 1990.

Lowest score needed to beat Wire since visitors Harlequins’ 8-6 success on March 29, 2008.

Last time Wolves were nilled was at home to Wigan, 28-0 on August 21, 2015. Last time Wire failed to score away was in a 16-0 defeat to Castleford on April 7, 2001.

MATCH FACTS.

Super League Round 11, Friday, April 15, 2016.

Huddersfield Giants 11 Warrington Wolves 0.

Giants: Ryan Brierley; Jermaine McGillvary, Leroy Cudjoe, Jake Connor, Aaron Murphy; Danny Brough, Kyle Wood; Josh Johnson, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Craig Huby, Joe Wardle, Ukuma Ta’ai, Michael Lawrence. Subs: Sam Rapira, Kruise Leeming, Nathan Mason, Oliver Roberts.

Wolves: Matty Russell; Rhys Evans, Jack Hughes, Ryan Atkins, Kevin Penny; Kurt Gidley, Stefan Ratchford; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Ben Westwood, Ben Currie, Joe Westerman. Subs: George King, Joe Philbin, Benjamin Jullien, Sam Wilde.

Scoring: Murphy try, 36mins, 4-0; Brough penalty, 45mins, 6-0; Brough drop goal, 65mins, 7-0; Cudjoe try, 71mins, 11-0.

Penalties: Giants 5 Wolves 6.

Referee: Richard Silverwood.

Attendance: 5,427.

Top man: Daryl Clark