Brown sings praises of Hodgson

Hodgson, enjoying a magnificent debut season in Super League, was superb in attack and defence as the Yorkshiremen scored five tries to three from winger Francis Meli to end Saints' unbeaten four-year run stretching back to the semi-finals of 2005.

"He is obviously a quality player and he came up with a quality play to put the game out of reach," said Brown. "Pretty much everyone on the field contributed but he's a smart player, very clever and, apart from that, he's very tough and his leadership is great."

He added: "Full-back is one of most important positions on the field because they touch the ball more than anybody and it's pleasing to have a player like that."

Loose forward Stephen Wild, a cup runner-up with both Wigan and Huddersfield, scored two of the Giants' tries but the hero was the 31-year-old Hodgson, a wiry full-back who plays considerably above his 12-stone weight.

Hodgson, the Giants' leading tryscorer this year, admitted that defence was the key to his side's success as they took their Super League form into the cup tie at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium.

"It was a great performance," he said. "Defensively we had to be on our game and thankfully our resolve was there.

"We've built it up in the last five or six weeks when we've played some quality opposition. We definitely believe we match it with these sides now, as we showed here.

"I absolutely love the fact that I've come over here to play football. It's a brilliant place to play.

"We play for each other. We don't boast as many stars on paper as Warrington, St Helens or Leeds but it's a real fun, enjoyable place to be at the moment."