ULTIMATELY, Warrington Wolves' first home game in front of fans for 437 days was a let down in the manner that they lost to Huddersfield Giants.
While Wire supporters were clearly pumped up to be cheering on their heroes again, it felt early on that the visitors were keener to silence them than Wolves were to please them.
All pictures by Mike Boden
That is not true, of course, with players and coaches eager to also put on a show for their families in what was their first time at The Halliwell Jones Stadium since March 6, 2020, as well.
But as Huddersfield stormed into a 12-0 lead in as many minutes, things were clearly not right defensively despite improved performances of late.
For all the fortitude and endeavours of impressive captain-for-the-night Mike Cooper up front, the balance looked upset by the two changes out wide that included the absence of skipper Jack Hughes on the right edge.
Shifting Toby King to cover, which seemed to diminish the form man's threat, left a hole on the left and it was a puzzler that fit-again Stef Ratchford – one of Super League's most consistent full-backs – was the man asked to fill it while Greg Inglis, still finding his feet on his comeback from retirement, was employed in the busier role at the back.
Giants, with only one Super League win to their name but improving with every game under new coach Ian Watson, got on a roll as Wire lost early control of the ruck.
They exploited Wire's unfamiliarity out wide and then found joy ripping apart Steve Price's shell-shocked side down the middle, with Aidan Sezer, Lee Gaskell and Ricky Leutele doing a lot of the damage as a 20-0 lead was established by the break.
A game of 2 halves 💪
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) May 18, 2021
Highlights of @WarringtonRLFC v @Giantsrl as we welcome fans back 👋 #SuperLeague #SLWarHud pic.twitter.com/nm5b08vN7D
A turnaround seemed unlikely, but it came.
Inglis, now switched with Ratchford, crossed after three minutes before exiting with a leg injury but the belief was back on and off the field as the fans and players inspired each other.
Blake Austin's towering kicks and the arrival of Sitaleki Akauola caused chaos ahead of further tries from Daryl Clark and Josh Thewlis to get within two points of Giants with 21 minutes remaining.
But it was as close as Wire got as Watson, including his time in charge of Salford, masterminded his sixth successive win against Wire as a coach.
INTERESTING NOTES:
- First Halliwell Jones Stadium crowd since March 6, 2020
- First home defeat to Huddersfield since 2015
- Mike Cooper captained The Wire for the first time
- Robbie Mulhern's 150th career appearance
- Josh Thewlis' first try of the 2021 season
MATCH FACTS:
Super League Round 6, Monday, May 17, 2021
Warrington Wolves...20 Huddersfield Giants...26
Wolves: Stef Ratchford; Josh Thewlis, Jake Mamo, Toby King, Josh Charnley; Blake Austin, Gareth Widdop; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Jack Hughes, Ben Currie, Jason Clark. Subs: Joe Philbin, Matt Davis, Robbie Mulhern, Sitaleki Akauola
Giants: Lee Gaskell; Jermaine McGillvary, Jake Wardle, Ricky Leutele, Darnell McIntosh; Aidan Sezer, Jack Cogger; Michael Lawrence, James Cunningham, Joe Greenwood, Kenny Edwards, Josh Jones, Luke Yates. Subs: Adam O'Brien, Owen Trout, Matty English, Chris McQueen.
Scoring: Gaskell try, 3mins, Sezer goal, 0-6; Gaskell try, 11mins, Sezer goal, 0-12; McGillvary try, 34mins, Sezer goal, 0-18; Sezer penalty, 40mins, 0-20; Inglis try, 43mins, Widdop goal, 6-20; Daryl Clark try, 50mins, Inglis goal, 12-20; Widdop penalty, 55mins, 14-20; Thewlis try, 59mins, 18-20; Edwards try, 67mins, 18-24; Sezer penalty, 77mins, 18-26; Widdop penalty, 78mins, 20-26
Penalties: Wolves 6 Giants 4
Referee: James Child
Attendance: 4,000
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