HUDDERSFIELD went into their game against Hull KR on Wednesday night without an 18th man after the club reported four positive Covid-19 tests, caretaker coach Luke Robinson revealed.

Kick-off at Stadium Way was put back by 90 minutes after the positive tests were disclosed by the Giants’ camp that morning.

Two were of players in rehabilitation after injury and the others were of non-players who had not been in contact with the playing group. 

“It’s modern-day life,” Robinson said. “It’s the world we live in, it’s very unpredictable.

“You normally pick the side three days before but now it’s a bit of a flick of a coin as to who’s available.

“Fortunately, they were non-squad lads but we didn’t have an 18th man so I was looking on worriedly in the warm-up, hoping no-one goes down.”

Huddersfield lost stand-off Jordan Turner three minutes into the game with a head knock and, with captain Aidan Sezer struggling with a back injury, the Giants were indebted to young half-back Oliver Russell as he calmly steered Robinson’s men to a 32-22 victory.

It maintained Robinson’s unbeaten record as interim head coach but he was far from satisfied as the Giants failed to capitalise on an 18-0 half-time lead.

“It was ugly,” he said. “It was probably a tale of two halves. The heavy rain and swirling wind made the conditions difficult but I thought we were very disciplined in our approach in the first half.

“But we’ve got to find a better way of starting second halves. It’s a concentration thing.

“If we want to get to where we want to, we have to be able to find that ruthless streak. We gave them a leg up.

“But I’d rather play ugly and win than play pretty and lose. It’s a results-driven industry. Winning becomes a habit and at this moment in time we’ve found that winning habit.

“It’s testament to where they’re at mentally, it’s a really good sign.”

England winger Jermaine McGillvary scored two tries before half-time, taking his career tally to 169 and lifting him into ninth place in the list of Super League’s all-time leaders.

Centre Leroy Cudjoe also scored his first try for two years but the second half belonged to Rovers hooker Matt Parcell, who celebrated his new contract with a hat-trick as the visitors hit back.

“It was much better in the second half,” said Hull KR coach Tony Smith. “We conceded too many points in the first half but I actually didn’t think there was too much between us except a bit of execution.”