Huddersfield Giants made it back-to-back pre-season wins with a 26-16 victory over Catalans.
Huddersfield’s outside backs were at their best as Aaron Murphy, Scott Grix, Leroy Cudjoe (2) and Jermaine McGillvary all scored to help the Giants overcome a Dragons team predicted to challenge them near the top of Super League next year.
It was a dogged effort from Catalans who can take positives from the fact that former Giant Jodie Broughton and Pat Richards both scored as they adapt to life at the Dragons.
The Giants held a 10-4 lead thanks to tries from Murphy and Grix, although Broughton’s late try gave Catalans hope.
But in the second-half the combination of Cudjoe and McGillvary was at its devastating best as they scored the final three Huddersfield tries between them.
Cudjoe scored the opening two tries, picking up a loose ball after a kick was unclaimed to score his first, and although Krisnan Inu scored for Catalans soon after, a break from World XIII member McGillvary saw Cudjoe score again.
Cudjoe turned provider for McGillvary’s try after a flowing move out wide, before Catalans earned a consolation when Richards scored in the corner.
GIANTS: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy, Connor, Ellis, Rapira, Hinchcliffe, Crabtree, Ta’ai, Lawrence, Patrick SUBS: Smith, Johnson, Leeming, Mason, Roberts, Simpson, Wood, McIntosh
DRAGONS: Gigot, Broughton, Inu, Duport, Richards, Carney, Myler, Elima, Pelissier, Bousquet, Stewart, Horo, Baitieri. SUBS: Escare, Mounis, Robin, Maria.
