Brough buoyant about Giants’ Catalans clash

Huddersfield’s Danny Brough has maintained that his side can bounce straight back as they take on Catalans in their play-off semi-final eliminator. Having lost comprehensive 57-4 to Wigan last time out in the play-off qualifier, the Giants have been handed a lifeline due to where they finished in the Super League table.

They are odds-on at 2/5 with Coral to beat the Dragons, who are decent value at 2/1; however, the West Yorkshire outfit can’t afford to underestimate the team from the south of France, who shocked Leeds Rhinos at Headingley.

Brough, though, is confident that his side can bounce back after the defeat to St Helens, and having spent the last two weeks watching from the stands due with a ruptured testicle, cannot wait to get back to action.

“I’ve obviously not played for a couple of weeks, so I can’t wait to blow off some cobwebs,” the 31-year-old said, who is 20/1 to cross the whitewash first.

“It was really tough having to watch from the stands last week, so this return can’t come soon enough.

“I felt so disappointed for the lads at Wigan. There were a lot of tired bodies out there after the win over Saints the week before,” continued the reigning Super League Man of Steel.

“But there should be no excuses in a play-off game not to give it your all. We let ourselves and the club down. We’ve another chance to make sure we don’t suffer a disappointing end to the year.”

Meanwhile, Catalans captain Olivier Lima is looking to target his Huddersfield counterpart in a bid to nullify one of the Giants’ biggest threats.

“Danny Brough is massive for the Giants,” said Elima “He has a sense of the game, and you’ve got to stay on your guard at all times when he’s got the ball on his hands. He’s the boss of the Giants, even if he is the smallest.

“If you can put pressure on his kicks and when he’s in possession, you can trouble him, and that’s something we’ve been working on in training,” Elima continued, who is 6/1 to put four points on the board anytime.

“But with the team spirit, solidarity and the atmosphere there’s been in training over the last few weeks, I think we’ve a big chance of winning at Huddersfield.”

The danger man all season for the Dragons has been influential full back Morgan Escare, who with 27 tries is one behind leading try-scorer Joel Monaghan of Warrington. He is a handsome 9/1 chance to breach the in-goal area first.