If anyone was in any doubt about the unpredictability of our great game, last nights sensational Salford win over the Saints served as an early season reminder.

Tonight saw a Huddersfield Giants side, decimated by injuries to Brough, Grix, Huby, Wood, Wardle and Crabtree, and rocked by the crushing announcement that Luke Robinson had been forced into early retirement leaving his side a key playmaker down.

The Warriors were coming into the game with just one change, Sam Powell into the starting line up for George Williams, from the side who battled through the elements for a six point win over the Catalans Dragons last weekend.

After absorbing twenty-four minutes of Warriors pressure it was the Giants who opened the scoring when a long miss-out pass from Jamie Ellis found Jermaine McGillvary to collect, run five metres and dive over in the corner. Ellis add the extras from out wide and a six point lead was no more than their excellent defence deserved.

After getting the six points on the board the Giants settled back into defence, frustrating repeated Wigan attacks, and taking the lead into the half-time interval.

Three minutes after the restart and Wigan were back on level terms when Liam Farrell picked up a Dan Sarginson knock back from a Bateman cross-field kick to drop over the line. Matty Smith slotted over the extra two to quiet the home crowd.

With the Giants just having had a try turned down by the video referee Wigan marched down field and Dom Manfredi found space out wide to ground in the corner. Matty Smith converted brilliantly from the touchline for a six point Wigan lead as the game headed to the hour mark.

Fifteen minutes from the final hooter and Jamie Foster opened his Huddersfield account on his debut when he collected a wide pass from Jake Connor to dive over on the corner. Ellis failed to add the extras and left his side trailing by two. But when Wigan were penalised for offside in front of their own sticks Ellis this time made no mistakes to tie the game up at 12-12.

Ten minutes from time, and having just had an attempted drop goal charged down by Tony Clubb, Jamie Ellis slotted over a one-pointer for a slender Giants lead but there was a long time left on the clock for them to hold on.

Four minutes from time and Josh Charnley struck a fatal blow for Wigan as he threaded his way to the line off an O'Loughlin pass. Matty Smith was again good for the extra two from the touchline as he sealed the points for the visitors, but the Warriors knew that they'd been in a real arm wrestle.

All credit to the embattled Giants who put in a tremendous performance in defence and showed real grit and determination. Wigan kept their cool and did just enough to snatch the points at the death and maintain their winning start to the season.

Giants: Murphy, McGillvary (T), Cudjoe, Wood, Foster (T), Connor, Ellis (2G, DG), Rapira, Hinchcliffe, Johnson, Ta'ai, Lawrence, Patrick. Subs: Smith, Leeming, Mason, Roberts.

Wigan Warriors: Tierney, Charnley (T), Gelling, Sarginson, Manfredi (T), Powell, Smith (3G), Flower, McIlorum, O'Loughlin, Isa, Farrell (T), Bateman. Subs: Clubb, Burke, Tautai, Sutton.

Referee: Phil Bentham

Attendance: