Giants end Super League season with Tigers rout

Betfred Super League

Huddersfield (22) 34

Tries: Hewitt 2, Rushton, McGowan, Lolahea, Clune Goals: Russell 5

Castleford (0) 10

Tries: Qareqare, Mellor Goals: Milnes

Huddersfield Giants ended their Betfred Super League campaign with a dominant victory over Castleford Tigers at the John Smith's Stadium.

Four first-half tries all but secured victory by half-time, with Sam Hewitt the pick of the bunch, scoring twice on the night.

Their dominance continued in the second half as they eased to one final home victory.

Castleford battled bravely and scored two tries themselves, but they struggled to remain competitive.

After picking up a loose ball, Hewitt opened the scoring for Huddersfield on 17 minutes with a powerful run and put down under the posts, after deliberation from the video referee. On his final Giants appearance, Olly Russell converted.

Harry Rushton and Aidan McGowan each went over for three tries in nine minutes to put the hosts fully in control, but Russell could only convert the first.

Tui Lolohea's wonderful individual try, jinking his way through the entire field, added the Giants' fourth three minutes before the break, with Russell kicking for 22-0 at the break.

It took just seven minutes after the restart for Huddersfield's fifth try. Superb footwork from Esan Marsters released Adam Clune, who crossed before another Russell conversion.

Castleford got on the board on 55 minutes when Jason Qareqare crossed in the corner but Rowan Milnes couldn't convert from a difficult angle. Soon after Hewitt crossed for his second of the night, with Russell bringing up a 30-point lead for the Giants.

Alex Mellor scored the Tigers' second try of the night against his former club before Milnes converted, ending a tough night on a good note.

Tui Lolohea scored one of Huddersfield's tries - as the Giants ended their 2024 Super League campaign with 10 victories

Post match reaction

Huddersfield Giants coach Luke Robinson told BBC Radio Leeds:

"I thought we dominated from minute one; our defensive attitude was unbelievable. The boys were brilliant; we were loose in the second half.

"I would have liked to be more ruthless, but the mistakes were from players who are leaving and wanted to put on a show. So, fair enough.

"Your defence shows your mentality and it was really good, We were prepared to do the hard stuff today. That is what happens when you do that."

Castleford Tigers coach Craig Lingard told BBC Radio Leeds:

"I thought we were soft in the first half. We lost pretty much every single ruck. It looked like we approached the game like it didn't have any meaning.

"You should go out to win every game and play with intensity, and we just didn't in that first half.

"It was really flat and frustrating. It was better second half but it was too late; we needed to be better at the start. Their physicality was just a lot stronger, whether attitude or size; we need to look at it. Once we conceded back to back tries, we were 12 points down before we could blink."

Huddersfield: Lolohea; McGowan, Marsters, Livett, Bibby; Clune, Russell; Hill, Milner, Wilson, Rushton, Hewitt, Cudjoe.

Interchanges: Rush, Ikahihifo, English, Greenwood; Deakin.

Castleford: Rooney; Qareqare, Hooley, Mellor, Senior; Milnes, Miller; Matvejev, McShane, Westerman, El Zakhem, Lawler, Horne.

Interchanges: Windley, Watts, Namo, Mustapha; Martin.

Referee: James Vella.