Tony Smith praised his side’s character and insisted Warrington have handed themselves a glorious opportunity to win the Super League Grand Final after victory against St Helens in a thrilling yet controversial play-off semi-final.
It is probably a measure of how laboured parts of the Super Eights had become that nobody quite knew what to expect from the opening play-off semi-final of 2016. Yet both sides put on a fine display, with Warrington emerging victorious after overturning a half-time deficit to reach Old Trafford for the first time in three years.
Warrington had won only twice against St Helens at home in 15 years before this and only once since the Halliwell Jones Stadium opened 12 years ago. Yet the Wolves’ recent form always suggested a first win in eight home games against the Saints was possible.
Most of the post-match attention focused on a number of controversial calls which went against St Helens in the second half but Smith preferred to focus on his side’s progression to within 80 minutes of being crowned Super League champions for the first time.
“When you’re coaching at a club like our club you set out at the start of the year to have a crack at each trophy,” he said. “We’ve given ourselves another chance, we’re excited and looking forward to it; character is a key ingredient in rugby league and my boys have got it in abundance.”
The occasion was a superb advert for the sport – away from the evening’s controversy. That Warrington trailed at half-time before keeping St Helens scoreless in the second half makes victory even more impressive.
Keiron Cunningham’s side certainly played their part in an entertaining play‑off, and looked on track for a 12th win in 13 games at the interval. Behind 8-2 in late in the half, a try from Jonny Lomax and two goals from Luke Walsh gave them a two-point advantage. Yet the balance swung again at the start of the second half as tries from Stefan Ratchford and Tom Lineham opened up an eight-point gap – although Lineham was suspected of knocking on in the buildup, which was one of several decisions which infuriated Cunningham post-match.
“They were game-changing calls and this consistently happens every single week when you look at video refereeing decisions,” he said. “My boys have busted their backsides since November to get treated in the manner that they’re treated and nothing happens.”
With St Helens chasing the game in the final quarter, they looked to have scored through the centre Dominique Peyroux – but the video referee, with the assistance of the on-field call from Ben Thaler, deemed there was no try.
Warrington’s failure to win the Super League title in the first 20 years of the competition often has opposing fans reminding them it is never their year: this year they may be set to silence them.
Warrington Ratchford; Lineham, Evans, Atkins, Russell; Gidley, Patton; Hill, Clark, Sims, Wilde, Hughes, Westerman. Interchange T King, G King, Philbin, Smith.
Tries Gidley, Ratchford, Lineham. Goals Patton 3.
St Helens Lomax; Owens, Peyroux, Percival, Swift; Turner, Walsh; Walmsley, Roby, Richards, Greenwood, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Wilkin. Interchange Amor, Vea, Thompson, Knowles.
Try Lomax. Goals Walsh 3.
Referee B Thaler (RFL). Attendance 12,036.
