Wembley dreams will have to wait for another year
HUDDERSFIELD’S early exit to Toronto Wolfpack was pretty typical of the Giants’ recent Challenge Cup woes.
The last time the club appeared at Wembley was 2009.
In the decade that has passed since that defeat to Warrington, Giants have reached the semi-finals just once, back in 2012.
Even during their League Leaders Shield success of 2013, the Claret and Gold couldn’t make it past the quarterfinals, losing to Warrington Wolves.
So, what has made Giants so unsuccessful in this competition recently and when were the near misses?
In 2018 they were defeated to eventual winners Catalans Dragons in the last eight. The 20-6 defeat came right at the beginning of Simon Woolford’s reign at Giants, just before their remarkable run during the summer months.
Had they overcome Catalans, and a few contentious referee decisions, they surely would have been one of the favourites to win the competition.
That can also be argued with the failure in 2013’s competition where Giants were defeated by Warrington Wolves.
Had Huddersfield overcame the team they pipped to the League Leaders Shield, they would have faced Hull FC in the semi-finals, and then Wigan Warriors in the final.
It isn’t a guarantee they would have been victorious, however, their form in the Super League would have made them big favourites to lift the trophy.
This is in a complete contrast to last season where Giants were dumped out by St Helens in a game that although they battled hard throughout, they never looked like conquering the eventual runners-up.
Between them, St Helens and Warrington Wolves eliminated Giants from the Challenge Cup on five occasions between 2010-2019, the true definition of ‘bogey teams.’
Therefore, Huddersfield can bemoan a bit of bad luck from the draw as five of their conquerors between 2010-2019 also reached the final.
But, as we all know, to be the best, you have to beat the best and on too many occasions, Giants have fallen flat when needed in the Challenge Cup, Toronto being the ultimate example of this.
And then there’s Swinton – we couldn’t go the whole article without mentioning 2017, unfortunately.
Easily Huddersfield’s darkest moment in recent memory as they were dumped out by the Championship side.
Giants, who were struggling in Super League and without many first teamers, were defeated 28-24 at home to a chorus of boos at the John Smith’s Stadium.
This was the nadir of Huddersfield’s struggles in a cup competition they desperately want to win once again.
Now Giants will have to wait another season.