Huddersfield (18) 48 Tries: B Hodgson, D Hodgson, Lunt 2, Cudjoe 3, Whatuira Goals: B Hodgson 8 Wigan (10) 16 Tries: Flanagan, Richards, J Tomkins Goals: Richards 2
Huddersfield clinched third place in the Super League and set up a play-off visit to St Helens with a comfortable win over Wigan. Leroy Cudjoe scored a hat-trick and Shaun Lunt crossed twice as the Giants put in a strong display to give themselves a play-off boost. David Hodgson and Paul Whatuira also went over along with Brett Hodgson, who kicked eight goals. It means Wigan finish sixth and will face Castleford in the play-offs. Brett Hodgson set the Giants on their way to their biggest win over Wigan in the Super League era with the opening try after eight minutes. Mark Flanagan brought Wigan back into it with a try but the Giants started to pile the pressure on the visitors and David Hodgson capitalised before Lunt went over for the first of his scores. Pat Richards scored just before the break to give the Warriors hope but they were missing the influence of the absent Mark Riddell and Sam Tomkins. The Giants started the second half with a flurry with Cudjoe starting the rout and finishing with a second-half hat-trick, saving the best for last with a length of the field score after an errant pass by Cameron Phelps. Among the absentees for the winners were regulars Keith Mason and Scott Moore who were dropped due to breaches of club discipline. The pair face an internal club inquiry for allegedly misbehaving at a civic reception held in Huddersfield after last month's Challenge Cup final. Brown said after the win: "It was not a tough decision to stand them down. "The inquiry should be finished early in the week and I'll have a big say in the outcome of that investigation."
Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown: "It was good to go into the play-offs off the back of a great win. "Brett Hodgson was outstanding, as he has been all season. He's one of the main reasons why we finished so high up the table." Wigan coach Brian Noble: "I do get a bit cross when accusations like complacency are made. "But I admit it did look like that. Too many players were not at the races. That's going to have to change for next week." "Huddersfield are too good a side to concede possession to. Some of the things we did were not as we had practised. "Thankfully the result doesn't affect us that much. But it gives us an opportunity to work on a few things defensively in training ahead of the play-offs."
Huddersfield: B. Hodgson, Cudjoe, Lawrence, Whaturia, D. Hodgson, Fulton, Robinson, Sculthorpe, Faiumu, P. Jackson, Wild, Raleigh, Aspinwall. Replacements: Crabtree, Lunt, D. Griffin, Patrick. Wigan: Phelps, Roberts, Gleeson, Carmont, Richards, O'Loughlin, Leuluai, Coley, McIlorum, Prescott, Hansen, J. Tomkins, Flanagan. Replacements: Fielden, Paleaaesina, Pryce, Mossop. Referee: I Smith (Oldham)
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