Defeat and injury setbacks at Craven Park
Huddersfield Giants’ recent resurgence in the Betfred Super League suffered a major blow on Friday night as they fell to a 36-6 defeat against Hull KR at Craven Park. The loss was compounded by significant injury concerns for two key players, casting a shadow over the remainder of the team’s campaign.
Giants coach Jim Lenihan confirmed post-match that center Sam Halsall sustained a serious injury following a first-half challenge involving Hull KR’s Jez Litten and Sauaso Sue. Lenihan described the incident as a “hip drop” tackle and expressed fears that the player may have suffered a broken leg. Halsall was forced from the field and was seen wearing a protective boot, with the club now awaiting medical scans to determine the full extent of the damage.
This report draws on information published by BBC.
The night saw further misfortune when forward Mathieu Cozza was ruled out for the remainder of the match following a high tackle from Sam Luckley. Cozza failed a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) after appearing to be knocked unconscious on the field, an incident for which referee Marcus Griffiths awarded only a penalty.
Coach criticism and match context
Despite the defeat, Lenihan praised his side’s resilience, noting that several players were forced to play the full 80 minutes under difficult circumstances. However, he was vocal in his dissatisfaction regarding the officiating of the two injury-causing incidents. While acknowledging that referee Marcus Griffiths generally managed the game well, Lenihan stated he was “shaking his head” at the specific decisions regarding the tackles on Halsall and Cozza.
“I don’t know what we’ve got to do to get a call in those situations, especially when they have a long look at them,” Lenihan said. The coach emphasized that the team does not possess a “lie-down mentality” and commended his players for their bravery throughout the encounter.
For the hosts, the result was historic, as Hull KR secured their place in the Super League play-offs. The Robins, playing in head coach Willie Peters’ final home game, dominated the opening 17 minutes with tries from Elliot Minchella, Arthur Mourgue, and Jack Broadbent. Further scores from Jez Litten, Mourgue, and Tom Davies ensured a comfortable victory, keeping the reigning champions in the hunt as the season approaches its conclusion.