Huddersfield have confirmed that the veteran hooker Brad Drew will return for a second spell at the Galpharm Stadium next season. The 34-year-old Australian was a popular figure with the Giants in a three-year spell from 2005 and has spent the last two seasons with Wakefield. The Giants bounced back from defeat in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley last weekend to defeat Celtic Crusaders, 42-16, in the Super League on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, Tony Smith, the Warrington coach, admits the Challenge Cup winners need results to go their way if they are to reach the play-offs, following a 40-16 defeat at Hull KR on Saturday. A sixth defeat from their last seven games leaves the Wolves outside the top eight with only one game left of the regular season. "We're disappointed," he said."It's going to have to take a small miracle to make the eight - which is a bit of a shame because, if we did, I think we could trouble some teams."
In the NRL, Brisbane warmed up for next weekend's all-Queensland finals showdown with Gold Coast by defeating Canberra, 22-10, at Suncorp Stadium last night. Kurt Gidley, the Newcastle captain, scored a double as the Knights defeated Penrith 35-0 at Energy Australia Stadium yesterday to secure a place in the finals. But Newcastle's celebrations on reaching the finals for the first time since 2006 were tempered by the sight of Isaac De Gois being carried from the field in the 53rd minute with a left knee injury.
North Queensland spoiled the retiring Craig Fitzgibbon's farewell by coming back from 16-0 down to win 32-16 against the Sydney Roosters. * With agencies
