Stone wants tougher Giants

Huddersfield coach Rick Stone says his team is still too brittle and needs to get tougher defensively after conceding 26 points against Batley yesterday in the second half.

The Giants were completely dominant in the first half, going into the break 46 points ahead after scoring nine tries and only a penalty goal against them.

But the Bulldogs crossed for four tries in the final 40 minutes, with Huddersfield managing two in the second period.

“The first-half was pretty good, we didn’t overcomplicate it and we played simple and direct,” Stone said.

“We are still a work in progress and we still have some improvements to make. We get another week off next week to work on a few things and then get ready for London.

“In the second-half we didn’t manage as well as we could have and we have got to show a little bit more resolve and our lads at the moment have got to get tougher defensively.

“Batley were really good in the second-half, they ran hard and broke tackles.

“They knew the ground well and they played well to the local conditions and they did a really good job.

“Obviously, we wouldn’t be comfortable walking away and saying we were happy with that performance especially in the second half.”

Prop Sam Rapira left the field in the second-half with a hamstring issue.

“I think Sam Rapira had a little bit of a tight hamstring and he came off and didn’t play any more in the game, but I think he will be okay,” Stone said.

“It looks like everyone came through okay and we will see how Jerry [Jermaine McGillvary] goes, touch wood, we will get another load back and be ready for London.

“It gives us another chance to assess ourselves and challenge ourselves and work on a few things, defensively we have got to work for each other and our processes around that end need to be better.”