Catalans (2) 8
Try: Pelo Goals: Bosc 2
Huddersfield (12) 30
Tries: Finnigan 2, Lunt, D Hodgson, Raleigh Goals: Robinson, B Hodgson 4

A try in each half from debutant Simon Finnigan helped give Huddersfield a winning start to the new Super League season against the Catalans Dragons.

After Thomas Bosc gave the Dragons the lead with a 10th-minute penalty, it was all one-way traffic for the Giants.

As well as the two tries for Irish international Finnigan, there were scores for fellow debutant Shaun Lunt, David Hodgson and Andy Raleigh.

Captain Brett Hodgson kicked four goals, with one for Luke Robinson.

Huddersfield Giants coach Nathan Brown:

"This was an excellent start. To come to the south of France and get any sort of win is something you would always take.

"I was delighted with everyone's contribution to what was an excellent all-round performance. But this is just the start.

"Hopefully, this victory will give us the confidence to push on, and we can start to build an even firmer and more solid foundation as the season goes on."

Catalans coach Kevin Walters:

"I always felt this would be a very difficult opening for us.

"With our two main pre-season trial games having been cancelled because of the bad weather, we were always going to be up against it. But we will not be using this as an excuse for the way we played.

"It is a case of putting this behind us and making sure we return far stronger and show the form that made us so strong last year."

Catalans Dragons: Greenshields, Stacul, Bell, Mogg, Pelo, Bosc, Perry, Guisset, McGuire, Ryles, Carlaw, Fakir, Mounis.
Replacements: Ferriol, Croker, Elima, Casty.

Huddersfield: B. Hodgson, Aspinwall, Lawrence, Whaturia, D. Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, Mason, Moore, D. Griffin, Wild, Raleigh, Finnigan.
Replacements: Crabtree, Jackson, Kirmond, Lunt.

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