In rugby league, video referees can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. It’s safe to say that after Friday night, Richard Silverwood won’t be on the Giants’ Christmas card list.
This was a massive game for Huddersfield, after their last two Super League games ended in disappointment. Having only managed a draw against Hull KR despite being well ahead, and allowing Widnes to come from behind to take both points.
The Giants can be somewhat happy with the result, as it went some way to stopping the rot. A view shared by Eorl Crabtree: “We’ve decided that we’re quite happy with it. The last couple of games we’ve let leads go and been really disappointed with the end result, so today it was a victory in a way.” He said.
“Our performance was a lot better than it has been in the last couple of weeks. Letting 12 points in against Hull KR to draw that game when there was only four minutes left was unacceptable.” He continued.
You’d forgive Huddersfield for feeling hard done by on Friday night, four disallowed tries left Crabtree feeling particularly bitter about the man upstairs. He said “It gives us confidence in the team but not the video ref. I think the first one was definitely a try, but it’s one of those things unfortunately, rugby league is full of different opinions.”
As the game drew to a close, the sides were level. Cue the battle of the drop goals, and for the first time in the game, lady luck was on the Giants’ side.
Brough went excruciatingly close for the home side, before Kevin Sinfield and Danny McGuire saw their efforts go unrewarded.
Sinfield tried again moments later, and it looked for all the ground to see like it was the vital point the Rhinos needed. A view expressed by most of the players.
Jodie Broughton, who limped off in the second half, said: “I thought it was going over when I saw all the Leeds fans cheering. I couldn’t quite see because I was sat on the bench. All the Leeds fans jumped up, I looked to the screen but it’s a bit delayed and I just heard ‘yeah…ahh’ and it bounced off.”
Crabtree also thought they’d let another lead slip to defeat. “I tried to put a bit of pressure on him and as I turned around it looked like it was going straight through the sticks, my heart was in my mouth. When it hit the post I just couldn’t believe it.” He said.
Sinfield was less enthusiastic in his post-match interview. “Well I knew it didn’t go over because it bounced off the post.” He said. “I think we’d have been very very lucky to come away with a win tonight, so we’ll take the point.”
Some good news for Giants fans is that Broughton’s injury isn’t as bad as first feared. “I’ve just damaged a bit of cartilage around the knee, it was quite painful when it happened, but [the physio] said just as a precaution, take me off. Hopefully I should be alright for next week.”
Huddersfield travel to Bradford on Sunday to face a Bulls side in disarray, sitting bottom of the Super League on minus two points, and facing an uncertain future. The Giants know that nothing short of a win will do, and Crabtree is confident that Friday’s result gives them a good foundation to do so. He said: “This will kick-start us, there’s a lot more to come from us.”
Meanwhile the Rhinos host Widnes Vikings on Friday, with both sides putting their unbeaten records on the line.