Walm turns up the heat

BIG AL TEARS DOWN GIANTS IN TOP SHOW

Hudd’s field 6

St Helens 54

Three pre-lockdown defeats had left Kristian Woolf ’s side among the chasing pack.

But with Walmsley leading Woolf ’s trio of in-form front rowers against an injury-hit, inexperienced Huddersfield side, Saints leapfrogged rivals Wigan as they look to retain their title.

England star Walmsley sley has been arguably the form player in the competition since the return to action, with Matty Lees a willing wing man in the middle.

And the midseason loss of the influential Luke

Thompson to Canterbury Bulldogs has barely been noticed due to the performances of his replacement, returning hero James Graham.

The vastly-experienced Graham has led with words and actions, and with all three punching major holes in defences every week, Saints look major title contenders again. The trio seem to be thriving under Super League’s fast-paced new rules, playing long minutes compared to their opponents.

This was always going to be a huge ask for a Giants side who were down to their last 16 fully-fit players – although they announced the three-month trial of former England back rower Chris McQueen prior to kick-off.

They were behind from the fourth minute when Lachlan Coote touched down after a fortuitous ricochet from Aaron Smith’s kick.

Smith scored himself ( below) from a trademark Walmsley offload, and when Regan Grace scooped up a loose ball to race away and make it 18-0 after less than 25 minutes, a demolition looked on the cards.

But Huddersfield didn’t concede a try for over 20 minutes and even crossed themselves through the impressive debutant Owen Trout.

The procession restarted in the closing half hour though as Louie McCarthy- Scarsbrook, Grace, Matty Costello, Coote, Dom Peyroux and fittingly Walmsley completed the rout.