Warrington fight back to seal win at Huddersfield

Betfred Super League

Huddersfield (6) 12

Tries: Lolohea, Greenwood Goals: Richardson 2

Warrington (4) 20

Tries: Lindop, Ashton, King, Dufty Goals: Ratchford, Thewlis

Warrington Wolves recovered from a sluggish first-half display to hold off Huddersfield Giants as they opened their Super League campaign with victory at John Smith's Stadium.

Sam Burgess' side looked untidy at the start and fell behind when Tui Lolohea marked his 250th career appearance with the game's opening score.

Arron Lindop's try on the stroke of half-time revitalised the visitors and they seemed to be firmly in control after Matty Ashton and Toby King both crossed the line.

Joe Greenwood scrambled over to reduce the gap to two points, but the Giants' hopes were finally extinguished as Matt Dufty scampered on to his own kick for Warrington's fourth try.

Huddersfield, who gave debuts to four players, opted to kick long and put the Wolves defence under pressure but, although those tactics paid off in terms of possession, the scoreboard remained blank for 25 minutes.

Wire appeared rusty, with several passes going astray and also lost their captain's challenge inside 10 minutes with a failed attempt to overturn a Giants seven-tackle set after George Williams' kick in-goal was caught by Lolohea.

It was the Tonga international stand-off who opened the home side's account for the season, collecting a looped pass from Zac Woolford and bursting clear to dive over on the right, with Danny Richardson adding the extras.

Huddersfield's captain's challenge also failed after they were penalised for a steal close to their own line – but the visitors failed to take advantage, choosing to tap and run only for the move to flounder with Stefan Ratchford's knock-on.

However, the visitors hit back with the final action of the first period, retrieving possession after Lolohea's pass thudded off Greenwood's chest and Lindop held off his man to score in the corner.

Although Ratchford's awkward conversion attempt drifted fractionally wide, the try itself was enough to give Warrington a boost and they carried that momentum through into the second period.

Dufty fed Ashton to exploit gaps in the Huddersfield defence and put his side in front for the first time, with centre King scooting over soon afterwards to stretch the Wolves' advantage to 14-6.

Sandwiched between those tries, the Giants were unable to take advantage of Greenwood's 40-metre charge following an interception – but the second row did later narrow the deficit, bundling the ball over the line for a try confirmed by video referee Aaron Moore.

Huddersfield's hopes of a late comeback never materialised, though, and Dufty made the points safe with five minutes remaining, following his own close-range kick through to score.

Toby King's second-half try gave Warrington some breathing space against Huddersfield

Warrington Wolves full-back Matt Dufty told BBC 5Live Sports Extra:

"It was a tough-fought win. We knew Huddersfield were going to push us right to the end and I saw the gap in the line, so I had to back myself.

"Round one's never pretty – you'd like to think you've got all the cobwebs out in pre-season. We haven't really had a side that's played 80 minutes yet, with people in and out through trials.

"I thought we were a bit clunky first half, we lacked a bit of direction and we got that sorted at half-time and ran a lot more smoothly.

"It comes down to the effort areas, staying connected through the whole game. We had a new structure come in last year so we've already got that in place and moving forward we can build on what we had last year."

Huddersfield Giants head coach Luke Robinson told BBC 5Live Sports Extra:

"We've had really freakish injuries, so it's been a torrid pre-season for us. Someone's got a voodoo doll with my face on it and they're prodding needles in it all the time.

"I'm extremely proud of each and every one of them, one to 17. Effort-wise, they were brilliant, they did everything we asked of them and stuck together.

"The one thing I am a little bit disappointed with is the game management. At the end of the first half they had loads of sets on our goal-line and we worked extremely hard, got the ball back and pretty much gifted them a try.

"If we'd just reacted a bit differently in some key moments, it could have been a different result. But if we put that much effort and desire in, we'll get some points on the board."

Huddersfield: Gagai; Swift, Hewitt, Jake Bibby, Wallis; Lolohea, Richardson; Wilson, Woolford, Burgess, Murchie, Greenwood, Cudjoe.

Interchanges: Golding, English, Rogers, Rushton; Jack Bibby.

Warrington: Dufty; Thewlis, Lindop, King, Ashton; Williams, Ratchford; Vaughan, Walker, Yates, Holroyd, Russell, Currie.

Interchanges: Powell, Crowther, Musgrove, Philbin; Taylor-Wray.

Referee: Tom Grant