Robinson blasts Giants ruck control after ‘worst performance of season’

Huddersfield Giants' first home game since June 14 ended in another defeat as they were downed 46-10 at home to Betfred Super League play-off hopefuls Wakefield Trinity; head coach Luke Robinson was fuming with his side's performance in a game which saw Huddersfield take the lead after five minutes; loan signing Niall Evalds was forced off with a calf injury in only his second appearance for the Giants since March 20

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Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com - 18/07/2025 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League: Round 19 - Huddersfield Giants vs Wakefield Trinity - ACCU Stadium, Huddersfield, England - Huddersfield players dejected
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com - 18/07/2025 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League: Round 19 - Huddersfield Giants vs Wakefield Trinity - ACCU Stadium, Huddersfield, England - Huddersfield players dejected

LUKE Robinson was left fuming as Huddersfield Giants’ return to the recently-renamed Accu Stadium saw them slump to a 46-10 defeat to Wakefield Trinity.

Despite taking the lead through Dane Gagai’s fifth-minute try, the 11th-placed Giants were second-best for much of the contest against the promoted play-off chasers in their first home game since June 14.

Their run without a win at home in the Betfred Super League is now at over 300 days and head coach Robinson pulled no punches in his assessment of the display against Wakefield.

“I thought that was the worst performance of the season from us,” Robinson told BBC Five Live Sports Extra.

“We’ve lost games this season and we’ve been beaten by better sides, but it was the worst performance. What we really struggle with is battling when things go against us.

“Once that falls against us, for whatever reason, we really, really struggle to get it back.

“I thought not only our middle but our edge, we lost the ruck way too many times and were on the back foot which inevitably leads to errors. I’m really, really disappointed.”

Matters were compounded by loan signing Niall Evalds being forced off due to a calf injury sustained on his first Giants appearance since breaking his foot on debut against Salford Red Devils on March 20.

Robinson is waiting to find out whether the fullback will face any further time on the sidelines, but his biggest concern is trying to make sure his Huddersfield players get to grips with controlling the ruck, which he pinpointed as their biggest issue.

“My job is to make sure we find ways of doing that, but the players have also got to have a good look at themselves, and you do that by winning the ruck,” Robinson said.

“It’s a very simple game, rugby league, and when you don’t win the physical battle and the ruck, bad things happen, and we’ve got to find a way of winning the ruck when things are against us.”