WARRINGTON Wolves’ Wembley hangover continued as their Super League play-off hopes were dealt a blow by struggling Huddersfield.
A late comeback was in vain against the Giants, who won only their second game of the regular season 16-24 , to likely leave Warrington five points shy of the play-off places by the end of the weekend.
An interception try from Jake Gagai got Huddersfield on their way, and they doubled their lead when Jake Bibby crossed.
Marc Sneyd converted his own try to get Warrington on the board, but they trailed 14-6 at half time when George Flanagan Jr converted a penalty.
Any hope of a second half response from the hosts were shortlived when Taane Milne scored for Huddersfield, and it could have been worse had Tui Lolohea’s score not been ruled out for obstruction.
Gagai’s second try appeared to put the game beyond doubt with 15 minutes to go, the missed conversion keeping Warrington within three scores at 24-6.
They rolled their sleeves up and Sneyd’s kick found Toby King in the corner.
An acrobatic finish by Jake Thewlis in the other corner with five minutes to go presented some hope, but Sneyd missed the conversion to knock any wind out of Wolves sails, as it left them eight behind with time running out.
Huddersfield, despite a few errors, managed to see the game out, and with Hull playing at doomed Salford this weekend, Warrington will be five points short of the top six places.
Warrington: Josh Thewlis, Jake Thewlis, Tai, Wrench, King, Williams, Sneyd, Yates, Crowther, Vaughan, Stone, Fitzgibbon, Currie. Subs: Powell, Thomas, Philbin, Wood
Huddersfield: Flanagan, Gagai, Milne, Halsall, Bibby, Lolohea, Frawley, Cudjoe, Greenwood, Hewitt, Powell, Woolford, King. Subs: Golding, English, Burgess, Rushton.
