Disappointment in Wane's world

Wigan coach Shaun Wane was "gutted" after watching his side crash to an opening-round home defeat to Huddersfield in his first Super League match in charge.

The Warriors were never in front as a Giants team lacking seven regulars through injury and suspension established an early stranglehold on the game and held on for a 20-16 victory at the DW Stadium.

"It was disappointing," Wane said. "I never saw it coming.

"I knew Huddersfield would be strong. They have some match winners. Nathan Brown did a great job saying they had so many players missing but they had some great players on the park today and I drummed into our players that they are a team that can play.

"We needed to be on the ball today and we weren't, it's as simple as that.

"When we did get our plays on, I thought we executed them well but our last pass was poor."

Wane has just five days to lift his team for their clash with reigning champions Leeds but is confident he can turn around today's below-par performance.

"It's going to be long day tomorrow," he said.

"We'll have an honest chat. The players are as distraught as me, which I'm glad about. Five or six individual performances weren't up to scratch.

"It's one game and, while I'm absolutely guttted at losing that, it's a long season and we can fix it. There were some real positives but some disappointing things we need to fix quickly and we will do."

England full-back Sam Tomkins scored Wigan's first-half try to keep them in touch but he was bamboozled by Huddersfield prop forward Larne Patrick as he charged 30 metres for a glorious try, his second of the match after going on as substitute.

Recovery

The 23-year-old Patrick had been expected to miss the start of the season after breaking a wrist in training but made a rapid recovery in time to answer his club's front-row injury crisis.

"Larne's been training for a week and half," said Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown.

"The surgeon cleared him and after Wednesday's session he was really confident.

"He has scored some wonderful tries over the last couple of years but, to go around a world-class player like Sam Tomkins, he won't have that done to him by many front rowers."

Lee Gilmour had earlier scored the Giants' opening try and Danny Brough kicked four goals but it was his side's defence that most pleased their coach.

"We never defended like that in the second half of last year," said Brown.

"Wigan have some terrific talent, players like (Sean) O'Loughlin, Tommy Leuluai, (Brett) Finch and Tomkins, so to be able to do what we did against them, credit must go to the players.

"They all deserve a pat on the back. There were half a dozen players out there that have played 25 games between them against a side as formidable as Wigan so they should all be happy.

"The key for us now is to front up and put the same committed effort next week."

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