WARRINGTON Wolves reached a fourth Super League Grand Final in seven years with a thrilling 18-13 win over league leaders St Helens.
Tom Lineham scored a brace of tries, including the gamewinner six minutes from time to consign St Helens to a fourth successive semi-final defeat.
The Wolves trailed 3-2 at half time bu led 12-11 in the second half before two Danny Richardson drop goals nudged the hosts ahead.
Steve Price’s men, who lost in the Challenge Cup final in August, will play the winner of tomorrow night’s semi-final between Wigan and Castleford at Old Trafford next Saturday.
A cagey first half saw Tyrone Roberts and Richardson exchange penalties inside the first 15 minutes and a sign of how tight the match was came shortly after the half hour mark when Stefan Ratchford hit the post with a drop goal attempt.
Minutes later, Richardson did what Ratchford couldn’t, scoring the first of his three drop goals on the night to give them the most slender of advantages at half time.
Saints grabbed the first try of the match within three minutes of the restart, Luke Douglas pouncing on Richardson’s kick and they led 9-2.
Jack Hughes got over with a quick response from the Wolves, but a Richardson penalty had Saints 11-6 in front on 50 minutes.
Lineham’s first try, brilliantly converted by Roberts from the touchline, on the hour mark put Warrington back in front and as time ticked on, they maintained a slender lead, even when Richardson missed a penalty on 67 minutes.
Richardson did find his range with a drop goal 11 minutes from time to tie the scores at 12-12 and he added another one-pointer two minutes later to give them the lead.
But Lineham’s try on 74 minutes, converted by Roberts, proved too much for St Helens and booked Warrington’s trip to the theatre of dreams.
CLICK HERE FOR GALLERY OF ACTION PICTURES BY EDDIE WHITHAMSt Helens: Barba, Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Grace, Lomax, Richardson, Lees, Knowles, Thompson, Taia, Peyroux, Wilkin. Subs: Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Douglas, Ashworth.
Warrington: Ratchford, Lineham, Goodwin, T King, Charnley, Brown, Roberts, Hill, Clark, Cooper, Thompson, Hughes, Westwood. Subs: Murdoch-Masila, Patton, Philbin, G King.
You knows it…https://t.co/okM8ChOW7W pic.twitter.com/SGc4WuLP1w
— Warrington Wolves (@wolvesrl) October 5, 2018
🔊🔊🔊 How loud were the @wolvesrl fans tonight?!?!
Awesome support from the travelling supporters 💪 #DareToDream pic.twitter.com/6gsuoLNtSx
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 4, 2018
THAT WINNING FEELING!! 😀😀
Old Trafford here we come!! pic.twitter.com/Mxn3zKVNhV
— Warrington Wolves (@wolvesrl) October 4, 2018
🗣️ “We had a game plan and we executed it really well. It’s brilliant to come away with the result!”
Hear from @TomLineham after the winger grabbed two tries to send us on our way to Old Trafford with a win over St Helens pic.twitter.com/ghocANTAXa
— Warrington Wolves (@wolvesrl) October 4, 2018
