WARRINGTON Wolves boss Tony Smith is unconcerned who his side will face in next week’s Grand-Final semi-final following a convincing 24-12 victory over Hull FC at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Following the victory over Hull FC, Smith said: “We’re going to be up against one of two very good opponents.
“There are four very good teams through to the final stages and whichever one we get put up against we will need to play well.”
Second rower Trent Waterhouse and Richie Myler (pictured top) scored first-half tries for the Wolves with second half efforts from Stefan Ratchford and Brett Hodgson who also kicked four goals from as many attempts.
“It was nice to see the half-backs combining,” Smith added. “They had to devise some ways to break down our opponents.
“I thought our pack was very good defensively and the work that Trent Waterhouse did tonight was unbelievable.
“I thought it was a good, hard, tough game of rugby league, finals footie by both teams.
The Wolves bounced back from their home by St Helens in the first round of the play-offs last week.
Warrington have never suffered consecutive home defeats under head coach Tony Smith and that rarely looked like happening against the Black and Whites, after Waterhouse opened up an early lead.
Despite scoring two late tries, Hull struggled throughout to threaten the Wolves try-line.
Lee Briers was onmce again the architect for the Wolves’ as he set up the second try seven minutes before half-time, this time with a perfectly-timed pass that enabled his half-back partner Richie Myler to slice through a gap in the visitors’ defence.
Full-back Hodgson, was another constant threat for the hosts, added both conversions to make it 12-0 at the break.
There was no way back for Hull when centre Stefan Ratchford demonstrated his exceptional talent in scoring the Wolves’ third try on 53 minutes.
There seemed little on when the utility back got the ball 20 metres out and fended off two defenders before kicking ahead and re-gathering off a post to touch down for an opportunist score.
Hodgson kicked his third goal to make it 18-0.
Myler then broke clear to get Hodgson over for his side’s fourth try to stretch the lead to 24-0 but the Black and Whites struck back when Briscoe raced onto Heremaia’s grubber kick to touch down.
Hodgson then had a second try disallowed and Hull had the final say when substitute centre Ben Crooks took Richard Horne’s pass to score his side’s second try, with Foster kicking his second goal.
Try time for Trent Waterhouse
Crunch time for Brett Hodgson
