Trent Waterhouse’s two tries left Warrington eyeing a domestic league and cup double as they reached their first Super League grand final with a 36-18 victory over St Helens on Saturday.
Victory also saw former St George Dragons five-eighth Tony Smith become the first coach to take two different clubs to the grand final, with Challenge Cup winners Warrington now up against champions Leeds, his old side, at Old Trafford on October 6.
The match is also a repeat of last month’s Challenge Cup final, which the Wolves won 35-18 at Wembley.
Having gone in at the break 14-12 behind at St Helens’ Langtree Park, Warrington saw former Penrith Panthers second-rower Waterhouse respond with a sensational second-half performance that featured two tries in three minutes.
Former Canberra Raiders centre Joel Monaghan and ex-Wests Tigers fullback Brett Hodgson — who booted 12 points — also got in on the act as the Wolves denied St Helens a seventh consecutive grand final appearance.
Francis Meli grabbed two tries for the Saints but it wasn’t enough.
The hosts had been quickest out of the traps and Saints pressure told in the 11th minute when Chris Flannery fed Thomas Makinson on the right and he dived brilliantly to evade Chris Riley’s tackle for the opening try.
Five minutes later though Hodgson’s creativity saw him set-up Riley’s 100th Warrington try, with the NSW-born fullback adding the conversion.
However, St Helens regained the lead in the 26th minute when Mark Flanagan gave a superb offload to Meli, who touched down for his 10th play-off try in Saints colours.
Then, five minutes before the break, Mike Rush’s side extended their advantage when Paul Wellens capitalised on poor handling from Hodgson.
The 34-year-old failed to deal with a swirling high ball and that allowed Wellens to go under the posts for his 24th try in all competitions this season.
Makinson, who had missed his first two goal attempts, made no mistake at the third time of asking.
Not to be outdone though, Wolves hit back with a superb Simon Grix try.
Richie Myler made the initial burst before Lance Hohaia stopped him in his tracks. Lee Briers then fed Grix who fended off two challenges to ground a minute before the break.
Hodgson held his nerve to reduce the half-time deficit to two points.
Briers’ flair was seen to good effect again early in the second half, with his kick ahead leaving Monaghan up against opposite number Meli.
Despite Monaghan dropping the ball, it was adjudged to have gone backwards and he collected, with Meli unsighted, to ground behind the try-line.
Warrington then all-but sealed the game on the hour when Waterhouse powered his way between the posts after more great work from Myler.
Hodgson’s kick made it 24-14 to Warrington.
The former Australia international then made sure of his side’s place in the grand final two minutes later when he scrambled over for the second time.
AFP bh
