Warrington into semis after thrilling win over Saints

Betfred Super League

Warrington (10) 23

Tries: King 2, Ashton 2 Goals: Thewlis 3 Drop-goal: Williams

St Helens (16) 22

Tries: Makinson 2, Percival, Bennison Goals: Percival 3

Warrington Wolves set up a Super League play-off semi-final against Hull KR courtesy of George Williams' golden-point drop-goal in extra time against St Helens.

The hosts took just two minutes to get on the board as Toby King touched down but Tommy Makinson dived to the corner to reply soon after.

Mark Percival twisted his way in for Saints' second before Makinson crashed over for another but Matty Ashton cut into the visitors' lead before half-time.

King and Ashton both crossed for their second tries to tip the game on its head but Jon Bennison sent it to golden point, leading to Williams sealing the Wire's win.

Victory for Warrington means they will face Hull KR in the first of next week's semi-finals on Friday (20:00 BST).

Wigan and Leigh will face off in an all-Wigan borough tie on Saturday, 5 October.

Warrington were beaten by St Helens in last season's Super League play-off eliminator, but got their revenge in dramatic fashion

Warrington led from the off courtesy of some canny work straight from the kick-off as Makinson knocked on, facing into the early evening sunshine, leading the hosts to start their first set within 10 metres of the try line.

King duly crossed over with ease but Saints stayed in touching distance as Josh Thewlis failed to add the extras.

Makinson made amends in impressive fashion with 15 minutes gone with an incredible dive to the corner from Jonny Lomax's offload, and Percival's fine kicking edged the visitors in front.

A frantic first half continued and Percival showed incredible strength to drive over the line and then converted his own score to put St Helens into an eight-point lead.

Makinson added his second when video referee Chris Kendall judged he had successfully grounded the ball over the line, but a sensational passing move from Warrington sent Ashton through to reduce the deficit.

Warrington scored the first points of a bruising second half as King went in for his second, having again linked up with England captain Williams, this time capitalising on a pinpoint cross which ripped open a hole in the Saints defence.

The Wire's momentum continued to build and the visitors failed to pick up Ashton on the wing, who ran in with ease.

There was more drama to come, though, as Bennison dived in out wide to take it to golden point.

Warrington got the first possession and eventually worked the ball to Williams, whose first drop-goal attempt was well charged down, but Saints' Percival kicked out on the full shortly before the Wire rebuilt, setting up their match-winning opportunity.

A bridge too far after Saints' injury-affected season

St Helens finished sixth in Super League this season - the final play-off place

Saturday's fixture was the fourth time that St Helens and Warrington have met this season, with the Wire winning on every occasion.

That St Helens managed to dominate much of the first half was mightily impressive given the uphill battle Paul Wellens' side have faced this term.

They have been plagued by injuries during the mid to late portion of the regular campaign but managed to name a near full-strength side for the short trip to the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Formerly the dominant side in Super League, it has been a difficult pair of campaigns for Wellens since he took over ahead of 2023.

For Warrington, on the other hand, their impressive season is now extended by virtue of their well-worked comeback.

Sam Burgess has inspired his side in his first coaching role and reached the Challenge Cup final earlier in the season.

A rematch against Wigan, victors at Wembley earlier this summer, could be on the cards at Old Trafford on 12 October should both sides progress through the semi-final.

The Wire have not reached a Super League Grand Final since 2018 and they must overcome a resilient KR side who finished narrowly above them in second place during the regular season.

Super League semi-final line-up

Hull KR v Warrington - Friday, 4 October (20:00 BST kick-off)

Wigan v Leigh - Saturday, 5 October (17:30 kick-off, live on BBC Two)

Warrington Wolves head coach Sam Burgess told BBC Radio Merseyside:

"There were a lot of emotions during that game. We probably weren't our best early on and we were playing a champion side in St Helens, who have been here plenty of times before and have got plenty of experience.

"We'll take a lot out of tonight - mainly the win, but also bits of detail we can look at. We've learned some great lessons as a group and we're going to have to be better on Friday at Hull KR.

"We were losing the physicality [by half-time] and that's been St Helens' trademark over the past five or six years. They were winning the field position battle and we just weren't making great choices.

"I'm proud that George grabbed it by the scruff of the neck tonight."

St Helens boss Paul Wellens:

"I'm really proud of the group but you carry that huge disappointment of being on the wrong side of a result like that.

"I think it's the bravest we've played with the ball all season, but we do need to see where we can get better, because I thought we gifted them 12 points today, and in big games those moments matter.

"We've lost some games in an ugly manner this season, and it's so much easier to take after a game like tonight when we haven't rolled over.

"We've been challenged more than we've ever been challenged this season, and criticised more than we've ever been criticised. But we've shown tonight what we're about as a club, and there's a lot to be proud of there."

Warrington: Dufty; Thewlis, Tai, King, Ashton; Williams, Drinkwater; Yates, Walker, Musgrove, Bateman, Nicholson, Currie.

Interchanges: Powell, Harrison, Vaughan, Philbin.

St Helens: Welsby; Makinson, Mata'utia, Percival, Bennison; Lomax, Dodd; Walmsley, Clark, Lees Whitley, Batchelor, Knowles.

Interchanges: Bell, Paasi, Delaney, Burns.

Referee: Liam Moore.