Whatuira stands tall for Huddersfield - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Whatuira stands tall for Huddersfield

By David Jones 08/03/2010 04:01:04 PM Comments (0)

Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown hailed the rehabilitation of two-time NRL Premiership winner Paul Whatuira after the centre's superb try-scoring display inspired the Giants' 52-0 thumping of Wakefield Wildcats.

The 28-year-old centre's man-of-the-match display came four months after he was treated at a psychiatric unit after being arrested in relation to a street attack on two fans.

Whatuira, who represented New Zealand ten times between 2004 and 2006 before moving to Super League, touched down after fellow Kiwi David Fa'alogo had also scored a try as Huddersfield swept aside the woeful Wildcats.

And former St George Illawarra coach Brown admits his side are reaping the benefits of Whatuira's return to form.

"He's going well is Fats," said Brown.

"I think we're utilising him much better this year than we were last year.

"The fact that he's learned to deal with his well-documented problems is obviously helping his game as well.

"For us to be a successful team, Paul Whatuira playing well is important to us and we're really happy with how he's playing.

"It was a good result and I get a lot of satisfaction for the players but I feel for Keary (opposition coach John Kear) too.

"As a coach, as much as you love having a good win, I've been on the other side of a 50-0 and you do feel for the other coach."

Meanwhile, Wigan coach Michael Maguire hailed Bradford half-back Matt Orford after he ruined the Warriors' 100 per cent record.

Ex-Manly stand off Orford scored two tries as the Bulls overcame a 20-0 half time scoreline to lead Bradford to a 22-20 win and inflict Wigan's first defeat of the season.

Maguire - who was Melbourne Storm's assistant coach before taking the reins at the DW Stadium - had made the perfect start as Wigan coach but admitted his side had no answer to Orford.

"We've set a high standard over the last four or five weeks but unfortunately that slipped in the second half," said Maguire.

"It's a matter of the boys understanding that it's an 80-minute game and, if you don't play for 80 minutes, good players like Matt Orford can burn you.

"He showed his skills and he got us. He's a crafty half - he's got a good left foot and a good right-foot step."

Catalans Dragons coach Kevin Walters insists his side regained their self-respect with a 24-12 win at rock-bottom Salford.

Walters branded his team an embarrassment after their 58-0 thumping against Wigan last week - but the Dragons responded in fine style against Shaun McRae's men.

"They say a week is a long time in football but our guys were pumping to get over that embarrassment," said former Brisbane man Walters.

"We reacted well after the Wigan defeat. I was always hopeful of a good reaction to that loss and that's what we got.

"I feel for Shaun and Salford but I'm going to be greedy and take the two points.

"Setaimata Sa played some good football. He's been down a little bit but showed what he can do."

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