"He is Mr Huddersfield": Luke Robinson hails Leroy Cudjoe after win over Salford
The former England centre is hanging up his boots at the end of the season
Huddersfield coach Luke Robinson paid tribute to the retiring Leroy Cudjoe after his side snatched a 14-8 Betfred Super League win over spirited Salford.
The former England centre, who will hang up his boots after next week's final game of the season at Leigh, was given a guard of honour by the players and a standing ovation before kick-off.
Cudjoe, making his 407th Giants appearance, kicked the game's final conversion after late tries from Adam Swift, Jacob Gagai and Kieran Rush ensured the 37-year-old's final home game for the club ended in victory, albeit just their seventh in a disappointing campaign.
Robinson said: "I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I was the coach who lost his last ever game.
"What he's done for not only this club, but rugby in Huddersfield... He is Mr Huddersfield.
"We made our (Huddersfield) debuts together in 2008 against Leeds, so I've gone through a journey with him and to see not only what a player he has become, but the bloke he's become.
"If my three boys can become the man that Leroy has become I'll be an extremely proud dad, because he's a champion bloke, both on and off the field."
Salford opened up an 8-0 first-half lead through Justin Sangare's converted try and Rowan Milnes' penalty and, although Ashton Golding went over for Huddersfield, the visitors deservedly led 8-4 at the break.
It was another spirited display from the Red Devils, who were edged out 17-16 by Catalans last week, and they gamely held on to their advantage until the Giants' strong finish, which resulted in three tries in the final 10 minutes.
Crisis-club Salford are working hard behind the scenes to secure their future after a winding-up petition for unpaid taxes was adjourned for a second time earlier this month.
Their penultimate game ended in a familiar defeat, their 23rd loss of a troubled season, but coach Paul Rowley had nothing but praise for his players.
He said: "We play like a team and that's really remarkable for us, having nine loan players in or whatever.
"In terms of character, we've never failed. It's a 10 out of 10 there.
"We defended for a full second half really and ultimately it got us in the end.
"But it was a game that given our share of territory, we feel that we could have gone on and got that win.
"Credit to Huddersfield for strangling us, in that sense, in the second half."
Salford's financial troubles resulted in a player exodus earlier this season, with Rowley left to fill the gaps with academy and on-loan players.
When asked what the future held for his current squad, Rowley added: "Well they know that I know exactly the same as them.
"That question might as well be me asking them. I'm as in-the-know as them.
"Obviously the delayed tax HMRC thing probably adds, if anything, to more anxiety because we go into the off-season still with a cloud over us."