WOLVES go into the second half in a strong position after a first-half hat-trick from winger Chris Hicks.

The Australian’s new partnership with Chris Bridge is flourishing, following the departure of Martin Gleeson to Wigan Warriors earlier this month.

They clicked well in the 58-22 success at Bradford Bulls last week and built on that with some clinical finishing in the first half today.

Wolves got off to a flying start on the back of Scott Moore being penalised for holding down in the first tackle of the game.

Adrian Morley made them pay with two determined drives, offloading from the second one to allow Clarke, Vinnie Anderson and Chris Riley to flash the ball wide for Matt King to dive over in the corner under heavy pressure. Hicks converted from the touchline.

Giants gave a penalty away for interference in the next set and Warrington went try hunting again.

This time a wonderfully delayed pass from Lee Briers allowed Bridge to defy David Hodgson’s challenge and squeeze out a pass for Hicks to cross. Although Hicks was unable to convert, Wolves led 10-0 and Huddersfield had not even touched the ball other than to kick off and restart.

Huddersfield’s response came in the 18th minute after Paul Johnson, facing the sun, dropped a swirling ball from a high kick.

Danny Kirmond swooped on the loose ball and fed Warrington-born Simon Finnegan on his inside to race home unopposed. Brett Hodgson converted and it was 10-6.

Wolves wiped out four of those Huddersfield points six minutes later.

Michael Monaghan fired a high cross-field kick towards the right, with Westwood collecting, stumbling after beating a man but popping up the ball for Hicks to cross for his second try. Hicks’ conversion went wide off the post, 14-6.

Four minutes later Hicks completed his hat-trick.

Paul Rauhihi made the initial bust, then Wolves poured forward on the right with Jon Clarke and Monaghan involved in shipping the ball to Bridge, who took on the line and flicked out an ambitious offload that was perfect for Hicks to gather and drop over the line too wide out for him to convert.

Hicks nearly had a fourth try in the 38th minute as fast hands between Simon Grix and Bridge put him over only for referee Phil Bentham to rule out the score for a forward pass.

Fittingly, Hicks completed the first-half scoring with a 28-metre penalty goal.

Two Wolves players collected head cuts and left the field before the break but it is expected that Monaghan and Harrison will play a further part in the second half.

Wolves went into action against Huddersfield with one change from the starting line-up that defeated Bradford Bulls last weekend.

Vinnie Anderson replaced injured brother Louis in the back row.

Rauhihi took his place on the bench after recovering from the calf injury that kept him out at Odsal.

There was no place in the 17 for Richie Mathers, the former Leeds, Gold Coast and Wigan full back who was named in the 19 and is awaiting his first appearance since rejoining the club earlier this month.

Wolves: Chris Riley; Chris Hicks, Chris Bridge, Matt King, Paul Johnson; Lee Briers, Michael Monaghan; Adrian Morley, Jon Clarke, Garreth Carvell, Vinnie Anderson, Ben Westwood, Ben Harrison. Subs: Paul Wood, Paul Rauhihi, Simon Grix, Mickey Higham.

Giants: Brett Hodgson; Martin Aspinwall, Michael Lawrence, Paul Whatuira, David Hodgson; Kevin Brown, Luke Robinson; Paul Jackson, Scott Moore, Keith Mason, Danny Kirmond, Stephen Wild, Simon Finnegan. Subs: David Faiumu, Eorl Crabtree, Darrell Griffin, Jamahl Lolesi.