Larne Patrick: Huddersfield's hero

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Brown not surprised with Giants’ win

Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown said his side’s 20-12 Super League victory at Wigan did not surprise him.

Despite starting the season opener without seven first-team players, the Giants dominated from the outset and shocked the partisan home crowd at the DW Stadium.

“We improved a fair bit in our friendlies and the last week of training was really good,” Brown said.

“I was confident we would put in a committed performance.”

Brown singled out 23-year-old forward Larne Patrick - who came off the replacements bench to score a brace of tries - for his contribution to the victory.

Patrick’s second try in particular deserves a special mention as he beat Wigan and England full-back Sam Tomkins before touching down.

“Larne’s 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,” remarked Brown.

Tomkins accepted blame for the try and and said his team would have to do some introspection after the defeat.

“I never saw it coming,” he said.

“The players are as distraught as me, which I’m glad about. Five or six individual performances weren’t up to scratch.”