Wigan Warriors 16 Huddersfield Giants 20: Patrick’s swift return helps Huddersfield stun Warriors

The Giants were lacking six regulars through injury and new signing Tony Tonks to suspension, but knocked Wigan off their stride from the kick-off and thoroughly deserved their victory.

Huddersfield’s hero was 23-year-old Larne Patrick, who had been expected to miss the start of the new season after breaking a wrist in training but made a rapid recovery in time to answer his club’s front-row injury crisis.

The visitors were clinging to a tenuous 8-6 lead when Patrick went on as substitute and grabbed two tries in 10 minutes to put them in control.

The Giants were also indebted to 21-year-old Jacob Fairbank, who was drafted in as a makeshift prop and played the first 67 minutes to help lay a solid platform for their win while Greg Eden, Tommy Lee, Luke George and Jason Chan all made impressive debuts for the Yorkshire side.

“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 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.”

“It was disappointing,” said Wigan coach Wane. “I never saw it coming.

“We needed to be on the ball 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.”

Wigan: S Tomkins, Charnley, Goulding, Carmont, Richards, Finch, Leuluai, Mossop, McIlorum, Lima, Hansen, Hock, O’Loughlin. Substitutes: Farrell, Tuson, Lauaki, Flower.

Huddersfield: Eden, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, George, Grix, Brough, Crabtree, Robinson, Fairbank, Chan, Gilmour, Lee. Substitutes: Lunt, Patrick, Lawrence, Walker.

Referee: R Silverwood (Dewsbury).