David Solomona came off the bench to score a try and kick a goal as Warrington saw off Widnes on Sunday to enter the Super League play-offs having won five of their last six games.
The 34-year-old former Parramatta second row touched down late in the first half as the Wolves went on to record a 52-14 win over the Super League basement boys.
Ex-Bulldogs secondrower Frank Winterstein opened the scoring for the Vikings, but Warrington responded in devastating style as they ran in 10 tries.
Mick Higham and Chris Riley were the pick of the bunch with doubles as the Wolves finished in second, just one point behind Wigan, with St Helens next up in the qualifying play-off.
Huddersfield also secured a morale-boosting 48-24 win ahead of their play-off challenge, dispatching Leeds, who will join them in extending their season.
Wakefield took the final play-off spot and celebrated by beating Salford City Reds, former Cronulla centre Dean Collis scoring in the 42-34 win.
The Wildcats discovered that they would be extending their season prior to kick off as ex-Newcastle half-back Scott Dureau inspired Catalan Dragons to a 50-26 victory over Bradford.
Collis was one of three try scorers for Wakefield inside the first 25 minutes, Frankie Mariano and Andy Raleigh both crossing beforehand, as they took control.
Salford responded through Danny Williams and Sean Gleeson but the Wildcats hit back before and after the break thanks to Paul Johnson and Ben Cockayne.
Vinnie Anderson attempted a second fight back for the Reds but that was quashed after Peter Fox and Lee Smith completed the scoring for Wakefield.
To their credit Salford didn’t give up as a double from Ashley Gibson kept things tight, but it wasn’t to be as they ended three places off the bottom in 11th.
It is the first time in three seasons that Wakefield have reached the play-offs.
Bradford’s bid ended with a whimper as the Dureau-inspired Dragons won comfortably.
The 26-year-old, who played in the NRL for Newcastle between 2007 and 2010, converted seven of nine tries including one he bagged himself in the second half.
Bradford started well but not even four tries from former Penrith Panther Jarrod Sammut could resurrect their play-off hopes.
Hull finished sixth after a 36-10 win over Castleford, while rivals Hull KR ended their campaign with a 48-42 defeat away to London Broncos.
Broncos have racked up the points over the past month and former Manly winger Michael Robertson was at the centre of this victory.
The 29-year-old bagged a double, as did Kieran Dixon, as the Broncos ended a tough season in 12th, Rovers finishing tenth.
And League Leaders Shield winners Wigan will go into the play-offs on the back of a 26-18 defeat to St Helens.
