Warrington Wolves will travel to Hull KR for the right to feature in the Super League Grand Final after Sam Burgess’s side survived an incredible playoff tie to end St Helens’ season and take a step towards Old Trafford. The two sides could not be split after 80 minutes, with Jon Bennison’s last-gasp try for St Helens coupled with Mark Percival’s stunning touchline conversion making it 22-22 and sending the tie to golden point extra time. However, the Wolves held their nerve when it mattered most to ensure they progressed to week two of the playoffs and the Saints were eliminated in spectacular fashion.
Having already had one drop goal attempted blocked, the England captain, George Williams, stepped up when it mattered most to nervelessly kick the winning point and set up a winner-takes-all showdown at second-placed Hull KR next Friday. The other semi-final will see Leigh Leopards face local rivals Wigan Warriors. There was sheer drama all evening in Warrington , right from the very first tackle, when Tommy Makinson dropped the kick-off for St Helens.
Three tackles later, the Wire had opened the scoring when Toby King exploited a gap in the Saints’ right edge to make it 4-0. At that stage, you wondered if a St Helens side who had been brittle confidence-wise for weeks would crumble. But instead, they grew into proceedings and dominated the majority of the first half and by half-time, they had the lead an absorbing tie.
The visitors went ahead when Makinson produced .