Huddersfield forward Brett Ferres described his side’s emphatic 57-4 loss to Wigan last Thursday as “embarrassing”, and claimed the Giants will do all in their power to avoid a repeat performance against Catalan Dragons this Friday.
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Ferres told League Express: “It was really disappointing.
“You work so hard throughout the year to get an opportunity in the play-offs, and to dish up what we dished up was not acceptable. It was way below the standards we set out to achieve every week.
“To put in a performance like that is embarrassing really.”
He added: “I don’t think anything went right from kick-off.
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“We weathered a bit of a storm early on, but from then it just went downhill quite fast. It’s disappointing, and we can’t put our finger on what happened, but we don’t want to play like that again.”
The Giants now face a battle to regroup both mentally and physically in time for the visit of Catalan Dragons, who beat Leeds with a last-gasp try at Headingley on Saturday.
Ferres said: “Luckily we get another bite of the cherry now, and it’s time to put it right and settle a few arguments between ourselves. We know we can beat top sides.”
He added: “It’s going to be a tough ask for Catalan to back up, especially if they have to come back over from France again.
“They do struggle a little bit with away form, but they have seemed to rectify that a bit of late. They’re a good side, and will be full of confidence from the weekend.
“But we’re focusing solely on us this week.”
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One positive for Huddersfield is that Danny Brough is set to return from a groin injury.
“He’s a massive player for us,” Ferres said.
“He’s our go-to man, and the general in the middle for us. If we can get him back this week it will be a massive plus for us. It’s a delicate injury, so it’s taking a bit of time – he’s had to look after himself.”