Coach Nathan Brown inspired Huddersfield Giants to only a third win in 10 games by revealing he is to stay with the club until the end of next season.



Engage Super League coach of the season Brown announced his resignation in May and had been linked with a move to NRL side Sydney Roosters at the end of the current campaign.



It coincided with the announcement that star player Brett Hodgson was leaving for Warrington Wolves next term and prompted a dramatic collapse in form which rocked Huddersfield's league and Carnegie Challenge Cup aspirations.

 

Rumours of a U-turn by Brown had been circulating and, at half-time, Giants officials ended the speculation by announcing the 36-year-old Australian would be staying.



The relief was clear as Huddersfield produced a gritty display to grind down stubborn resistance from a Crusaders RL side, who held the match scoreless for the first 20 minutes.



Constant Giants pressure finally told when Luke Robinson capped a flowing move with the final pass for Shaun Lunt  to dive over for a converted try on the 21st minute.



Robinson, who had a hand in all the first-half scores, gifted the ball to Crusaders stand-off Jarrod Sammut minutes later and the Australian raced clear for a stunning solo try.



The scrum-half quickly made amends with a defence-splitting kick through for Stephen Wild to notch a converted touchdown in the right corner.



And he was at it again on 36 minutes with another kick through, which Jermaine McGillvary pounced on.



Victory was effectively sealed early in the second half when Michael Lawrence dived over in the left corner to clinch a second win over Crusaders this season following their 38-10 victory in April.



Weller Hauraki grabbed a consolation try for the visitors on 63 minutes but then two late errors from Crusaders completed their miserable afternoon.



Adam Peek had the ball stolen from him by Lunt and the Giants second-rower put in Kevin Brown for a solo score.



And in stoppage time McGillvary intercepted a misplaced pass and dashed the full length of the field to score.