:00:40. > :00:45.Hello and welcome to the first utility superleague play-off
:00:46. > :00:49.semifinals. 2016 has seen a notable change of fortunes for some of the
:00:50. > :00:53.teams in the sport's top tiers with many ups and downs over the past
:00:54. > :00:56.eight months. What is guaranteed, however, is a different name being
:00:57. > :01:40.engraved on each piece of silverware on offer this year.
:01:41. > :01:45.It's the second year of the super eights, the top eight teams play
:01:46. > :01:50.once more with teams one to four playing off in the semifinals for a
:01:51. > :01:54.place in next Saturday's Old Trafford grand final. The bottom
:01:55. > :01:57.four teams were joined by the top four finishes in the championship to
:01:58. > :02:01.form the qualifiers. They've all started on zero points
:02:02. > :02:05.with the first three teams being guaranteed superleague status for
:02:06. > :02:09.next season. The final superleague spot for 2017 will be decided on
:02:10. > :02:13.Saturday afternoon when Hull KR play Salford in the Million Pound Game.
:02:14. > :02:21.For many it will be a life-changing match and we will have highlights
:02:22. > :02:31.and reaction tomorrow on BBC Two. Joining us here at the DW stadium,
:02:32. > :02:37.Jonathan and David. How do you look at the season? The consistency of
:02:38. > :02:43.Warrington, the Challenge Cup final was a great game. A showpiece event
:02:44. > :02:47.for the game. But for me again it's the demise of Leeds and
:02:48. > :02:51.Huddersfield, how they've fallen from grace so dramatically in the
:02:52. > :02:56.space of 12 months. What have you made of the overall quality?
:02:57. > :02:59.Probably not been the best season in that respect. But we have seen
:03:00. > :03:06.exciting games through the season. Probably not as many as we are used
:03:07. > :03:10.to. It might be or might not be an issue, Leeds and Huddersfield
:03:11. > :03:13.falling from grace. Wigan and Saints down there and Warrington in there
:03:14. > :03:18.as Jonathan says, I think that we had a lot of exciting things through
:03:19. > :03:23.the year, probably the challenge cup was awesome, the games we offered. A
:03:24. > :03:31.lack of consistency, sometimes you will have great games and defensive
:03:32. > :03:34.games. Then again you will see a poor defence but Solomona you have
:03:35. > :03:38.to give him a mention, a fantastic achievement. It show what is
:03:39. > :03:42.Castleford could do on their day. What do you think has been at the
:03:43. > :03:48.root of Leeds' problem this year? It's difficult to put your finger on
:03:49. > :03:53.it. It just can't be the timing of three key players. As a club of that
:03:54. > :03:56.standing and quality of their playing squad, they should have
:03:57. > :04:00.planned that in a progression to say this is what is happening, these are
:04:01. > :04:06.retiring, these boys are coming through. Yes, maybe finishing lower,
:04:07. > :04:10.not winning the treble or superleague, but to fall so far
:04:11. > :04:19.down, I still can't get my head around it. I can't. Huddersfield are
:04:20. > :04:24.they fortunate to be relegated? The league table and the way they played
:04:25. > :04:28.got them out of that mix. What we saw through the year reinforcing
:04:29. > :04:33.some points you made there is that every team that's had injuries, the
:04:34. > :04:37.team that's coped better and the size and quality of the squad mean
:04:38. > :04:46.they're either at the top or bottom of the pile. You go into the
:04:47. > :04:53.play-offs and you go we will be OK and all of a sudden, now it's a big
:04:54. > :05:07.play-off. The play-off semifinals kicked on Thursday with Warrington
:05:08. > :05:09.taking on St Helens. I want to win, I want that trophy! # I want that
:05:10. > :05:39.trophy. That's what they will be playing for
:05:40. > :05:45.in just over seven days at Old Trafford. Here they come. History
:05:46. > :05:50.suggests St Helens are favourites. Recent form points to a Warrington
:05:51. > :05:57.win. But this is too close a call to make. A committed prediction at this
:05:58. > :06:03.stage, however it plays out, there is a real sense of occasion here
:06:04. > :06:08.tonight. Warrington welcome back the hugely
:06:09. > :06:22.influential Kirk Kidly into the half.
:06:23. > :06:59.That's a pass that took a touch. So it's a zero tackle.
:07:00. > :07:03.So they got the advantage play here. The free play. Can't make anything
:07:04. > :07:11.of that. Welcome repeat set for Warrington
:07:12. > :07:16.and another set to go because they had the penalty.
:07:17. > :07:20.Do they go for goal here, Jonathan? Or continue the attack? Well, I
:07:21. > :07:26.would go for goal. You got to build your score sometimes. These games
:07:27. > :07:30.are very, very close. That's the decision they have taken. Young
:07:31. > :07:33.Declan Patton with the responsibility of trying to give his
:07:34. > :07:39.side the first points of the night. His kicking this year, 22 attempts,
:07:40. > :07:48.he has an 86% success rate. So, he has a cool head for big occasions.
:07:49. > :07:52.And very good level of accuracy. He found that accuracy this time, he
:07:53. > :07:53.has. First points of the night with 20 minutes played. Warrington lead
:07:54. > :08:16.2-0. This is the last. Walsh with a kick.
:08:17. > :08:22.Ratchford comes across. It's back into the hands of Percival. A big
:08:23. > :08:29.set of six now for Warrington. I think it's the first set St Helens
:08:30. > :08:42.have started within sight of the Warrington line. Here comes the
:08:43. > :08:47.urgent run from Walmsley. The penalty given away. Two points says
:08:48. > :08:53.the coach. There is the penalty. You can sense
:08:54. > :08:58.the nervousness. St Helens creep into the 20-metre area of
:08:59. > :09:05.Warrington. Kickable for Walsh. He will take his
:09:06. > :09:08.time again. It's not a big run-up but it's all square again at two
:09:09. > :09:18.points each. Patton with a dummy trying to get
:09:19. > :09:26.through. Good reaction from Greenwood.
:09:27. > :09:34.Gidley has lost it. St Helens have it back. I think the referee will go
:09:35. > :09:41.again with... Oh he has given Warrington. Decided there it was
:09:42. > :09:47.Walmsley knocked it on. That's a good call. Hits it with the right
:09:48. > :09:53.hand. It is Warrington's head and feet, ten metres out.
:09:54. > :09:57.A big moment in the game here. 30 minutes played. Neither tryline
:09:58. > :10:03.breached yet but as good a chance Warrington have had so far from this
:10:04. > :10:11.position. Westerman. Clarke. Taken on again by
:10:12. > :10:18.Sims. It's Clarke. Patton looks for the runners! From
:10:19. > :10:22.behind them all came Gidley to find a way through. There is is a
:10:23. > :10:29.question about whether he was shepherded through. Was there an
:10:30. > :10:40.obstruction? Yeah, just watch. Ball comes out. Misses the first player.
:10:41. > :10:44.That's a great dummy run. Now Walmsley has to step in. He could
:10:45. > :10:49.have given it to either player really. This is the block maybe.
:10:50. > :10:55.Does he run a shepherd? I don't think he does. Both men make a
:10:56. > :10:59.tackle. A try. They're looking at the ground. It
:11:00. > :11:02.gives you the sense of the what the individual yes referee is thinking.
:11:03. > :11:07.Is he short? Well, he is short. Does the ball carry on?
:11:08. > :11:15.Well, here we go. A try given.
:11:16. > :11:20.This place gets a little louder. Gidley first try of the night with
:11:21. > :11:26.30 minutes played. Warrington have a 6-2 advantage. Is there a question
:11:27. > :11:33.on the grounding there? He was short and... A try has been given.
:11:34. > :11:37.Declan Patton to extend this lead to the magical number of six. A try and
:11:38. > :11:51.a goal separates Warrington and St Helens.
:11:52. > :11:59.The referee says dominant. I think that was an understatement. Bang.
:12:00. > :12:05.Stay down. St Helens looking left again. Turner. Good ball away. Smith
:12:06. > :12:11.down this left side. Swift. Back on the inside. That's a wonderfully
:12:12. > :12:16.crafted try for Lomax to finish. That was a thing of beauty in terms
:12:17. > :12:20.of speed and execution. St Helens get their first try of the
:12:21. > :12:27.night. It's one to celebrate and remember. This is typical St Helens.
:12:28. > :12:32.Under pressure, Turner goes in. Takes it across the field but gets
:12:33. > :12:40.his hands free. Swift is away. Inside pass. Lomaax is there again.
:12:41. > :12:47.And just goes. Just watch. Nothing on. Turner goes in. This is crucial.
:12:48. > :12:51.Gets on the outside of the centre, sucks the winger in, Swift is away.
:12:52. > :12:55.The covering defender doesn't get to him. It commits the fullback and
:12:56. > :13:08.then the fullback goes. Brilliant comeback!
:13:09. > :13:14.I think the coach enjoyed that. They're staying in the game, that's
:13:15. > :13:17.what they're capable of doing. En Luke Walsh with a kick to make it
:13:18. > :13:26.all square. What a first half we have seen here.
:13:27. > :13:31.So Ratchford with a big kick down field. St Helens, all things being
:13:32. > :13:38.equal, will finish the half with ball in hand. Have they an appetite
:13:39. > :13:42.to get something else here? What is also typical of St Helens is how
:13:43. > :13:52.they score back-to-back tries sometimes. Roby is in the hunt.
:13:53. > :13:58.Walsh up there quickly. Here comes Walmsley. Dragged down. Two tackles
:13:59. > :14:05.to go. It's a penalty. There are no doubts, are they, what they're going
:14:06. > :14:09.to do here? I wonder how costly that moment might be from George King as
:14:10. > :14:15.the hooter sounds in the background. The penalty goal is going to be the
:14:16. > :14:20.last act of this first half. These are anxious moments. I think she
:14:21. > :14:27.knows, we all know, how important these two points might be. Luke
:14:28. > :14:32.Walsh to give St Helens the last word in a pulsating first half. The
:14:33. > :14:36.Saints lead, unlikely as it is, by 10-8.
:14:37. > :14:42.Clarke. A head down and drive by King.
:14:43. > :14:51.George King. Clarke is in there again.
:14:52. > :14:55.Gidley. Here is Toby King. Ball has gone to ground. Referee has a
:14:56. > :14:58.decision to make. Decides not to make it, says play on.
:14:59. > :15:06.He had the whistle in his mouth momentarily.
:15:07. > :15:14.Evans takes it on. Here is the 6th. Put high by Gidley. It's going to
:15:15. > :15:18.fall into no-man's-land. Gidley a stumble and a dive! Evans. But I
:15:19. > :15:32.don't think there was any downward pressure on that. Brilliant defence
:15:33. > :15:37.again. What a hit, Lomax. Great hit. That's a high tackle. Warrington
:15:38. > :15:42.penalty. Five metres from the halfway line. They can find touch
:15:43. > :15:47.and some distance here. So pressure might be about to be
:15:48. > :15:52.mounted here on this St Helens line. That's a big kick. 25 metres away.
:15:53. > :15:57.Warrington's wave of attack starts here.
:15:58. > :16:02.The question is where does it finish?
:16:03. > :16:07.Ratchford with a dummy. He is going nowhere. Eight minutes of the second
:16:08. > :16:15.half played. King steps back, Toby King.
:16:16. > :16:21.12 away. Now it's Clarke. Here is Gidley. Support from Patton. The
:16:22. > :16:31.ball is squeezed to Russell. He had to wait. He goes back towards the
:16:32. > :16:37.middle. Russell held up. Three more tackles to go in this set. Ratchford
:16:38. > :16:41.to the middle. Across to goes. There is an opportunity here. A reach for
:16:42. > :16:46.the line by Clarke. He is just held up short. Great defence, had to go.
:16:47. > :16:50.Evans. Oh, it's another penalty. Interference of the play. Definitely
:16:51. > :16:55.foot in there. That was an opportunity. They created three on
:16:56. > :16:58.two and didn't execute it properly. Clarke went for the line and didn't
:16:59. > :17:04.get there. Here is a moment in the match. A repeat set for Warrington.
:17:05. > :17:09.10 metres out. It is prime position. What do they
:17:10. > :17:22.make of it? Clarke waits at dummy half. Skips it to the left side. An
:17:23. > :17:26.urge again. But Patton is held up. Ratchford at dummy half. Hill tries
:17:27. > :17:30.to push his big framed body over the line. St Helens hanging on. Clarke
:17:31. > :17:37.goes to the right side. They're missing men out here to create a
:17:38. > :17:41.gap. Lineham has the offload to Evans. Evans runs into a brick wall.
:17:42. > :17:50.What a hit. They try again. Two tackles to go.
:17:51. > :18:03.Give it. The passing is good. But Patton can't keep it alive.
:18:04. > :18:09.Ratchford finds a way over! Really sharp work from Stefan Ratchford on
:18:10. > :18:17.his 150th appearance. His 99th try. It gives Warrington a lead. The pace
:18:18. > :18:24.of Ratchford gets over. Won't be happy with the defending. He spots
:18:25. > :18:28.it and just goes. Patton will take all the time in the world before
:18:29. > :18:34.slotting it over. 14 points now for Warrington. 10 for St Helens. The
:18:35. > :18:38.pendulum swings again but it isn't stopping here.
:18:39. > :18:43.The old routine comes to pass again here. So many times down the years
:18:44. > :18:48.Warrington have had a winning lead here against St Helens, only for
:18:49. > :18:53.Saints to steal it at the last. Is this the night Warrington hang on?
:18:54. > :19:01.Well, they've hung on here. Forcing the error, Toby King wins it back
:19:02. > :19:09.for his side. Penalty. Offside. Double whammy.
:19:10. > :19:16.Warrington fans are enjoying the moment.
:19:17. > :19:21.The kick has gone to touch. Here come Warrington.
:19:22. > :19:26.A try here might be conclusive. Although there are still 17 minutes
:19:27. > :19:34.left to play. Against Saints. This is Sims. He has had a big game, Sims
:19:35. > :19:39.and Hill have played extremely well. Clarke goes right. It's going
:19:40. > :19:48.further right. Ratchford out to the corner. Tom Lineham dives in again!
:19:49. > :19:52.His two tries last week helped his side lift the League leaders shield.
:19:53. > :19:59.Has that try booked a ticket to the grand final? It's a massive try,
:20:00. > :20:07.whatever. There is the mistake. King gets the ball. Penalty. Field
:20:08. > :20:14.position. Again it's this man again, the money ball, Ratchford. What a
:20:15. > :20:20.pass. He had to come in and create that little bit of genius. Patton
:20:21. > :20:24.will consider this needs kicking. It's a two-score lead they have at
:20:25. > :20:32.the moment. An element of comfort, but another two wouldn't go amiss.
:20:33. > :20:36.Oh, no, it's not over. It's short. 18-10 and because of that just
:20:37. > :20:41.Warrington are in the driving seat. Just held on to it. Saints fans
:20:42. > :20:46.won't be happy with that. There is barely time to fashion a miracle. If
:20:47. > :20:55.anyone can do it, it's usually the St Helens lot. Walsh. Lomax. For a
:20:56. > :20:59.corner. Owen steps back in. There is just a forest of defenders. He can't
:21:00. > :21:05.cut a way through. Greenwood. He will have a go. Yeah, the pass was
:21:06. > :21:13.too slow. He had to go back in that direction. Less than two minutes. A
:21:14. > :21:26.little go from dummy half. Has he got in? Oh, no. No try. He thinks he
:21:27. > :21:32.scored. Again it's a big decision by the referee. It has to be absolute
:21:33. > :21:37.evidence. The video referee has to see that ball being touched down.
:21:38. > :21:43.You can't see that, can you? No. The referee was as close as anyone.
:21:44. > :21:50.Have a look at this. Have a look at this!
:21:51. > :21:55.Is this compelling? Oh, that... You can see the white line. And you can
:21:56. > :22:03.see the ball. It's a good effort by Peyroux from
:22:04. > :22:07.dummy half. The ball is on the line there. I
:22:08. > :22:13.think you got to give it. A massive decision. This is the last hope for
:22:14. > :22:21.St Helens or Warrington are going to Old Trafford. It is no try. A rueful
:22:22. > :22:25.shake of the head. Peyroux feels he has been robbed of a try. Warrington
:22:26. > :22:31.know they're on the way to the grand final. I think that the referee has
:22:32. > :22:40.no try on field was so influential. If he had said try I am sure he
:22:41. > :22:46.would have given it. They'll just keep slogging away until the hooter
:22:47. > :22:54.sounds. Those seconds will be going at a quick rate by St Helens point
:22:55. > :23:02.of view. We are now into the final 40 seconds.
:23:03. > :23:23.Turner with a kick. That is that. Ratchford concedes the drop out
:23:24. > :23:26.again. That's as good as a full-time hooter for those Warrington fans.
:23:27. > :23:30.Challenge Cup defeat at Wembley a month or so ago. Now they go to Old
:23:31. > :23:37.Trafford for the grand final hoping that it's a different story they can
:23:38. > :23:43.write this time. The kick down field is taken by Turner. Here they go.
:23:44. > :23:49.The hooter will sound next time the ball goes dead. It will go dead with
:23:50. > :23:56.Ratchford's kick. A flurry of celebration. A semifinal won, a
:23:57. > :24:02.bigger job still to do but my word what a performance, what a Cup tie
:24:03. > :24:08.tonight. St Helens took it to the very last this evening but it's
:24:09. > :24:17.Warrington who are through to Old Trafford. Sometimes it's execution
:24:18. > :24:21.or a kicking game or sloppy in defence that has let us down from
:24:22. > :24:25.time to time but not character. They've shown it a whole lot there
:24:26. > :24:28.tonight. Certainly Saints, I thought they were tremendous. They were
:24:29. > :24:32.really good. You know, their character was enormous, as well. The
:24:33. > :24:39.way they defended their try line and denied us a few times. Right on the
:24:40. > :24:42.tryline and, yeah, I thought without each team being at their best it was
:24:43. > :24:46.a gutsy effort from both teams. I haven't got the words to express the
:24:47. > :24:50.pride that I have for this group. There is many teams probably would
:24:51. > :24:53.have gone through what we went on early on and crumbled and not had a
:24:54. > :24:57.good finish to the year and a testament to the players that
:24:58. > :25:01.they've really kicked on and had something in the sights for a long
:25:02. > :25:05.period and it's hard to stay in there and won a fair few games now
:25:06. > :25:10.and no matter how we won them, we won them and that's the biggest
:25:11. > :25:15.thing. Suddenly two in one season in a couple of months. Yeah, the
:25:16. > :25:18.disappointment of the challenge cup and missing the last 20 minutes of
:25:19. > :25:22.that game, having to go off with injury and losing the game, look,
:25:23. > :25:26.it's a tough one to get over that. As a club we have shown again a lot
:25:27. > :25:31.of character to get back on the horse the following week and again
:25:32. > :25:35.tonight. Everyone was talking about Saints' record and we were aware of
:25:36. > :25:40.that. We were aware of it for the previous two games this year t
:25:41. > :25:44.hasn't been great over the number of years. But I thought we done
:25:45. > :25:47.ourselves proud tonight. There is an inevitability these days that the
:25:48. > :25:52.video refereeing decisions come into focus and the try at the end by
:25:53. > :25:57.Peyroux, what was your view of that? I don't watch them. I just, you
:25:58. > :26:02.know, often I joke around that that they should take a coin and toss it
:26:03. > :26:07.and see how it finishes and probably finish out, even by the end of the
:26:08. > :26:11.year hopefully. I think that the disappointing thing about today is
:26:12. > :26:17.that it's come down to the referee decisions again. We have had our
:26:18. > :26:22.fair few stiff calls in the last few weeks. You ride those, they do even
:26:23. > :26:26.out but I don't think - it's probably a blight on the game that
:26:27. > :26:30.today everybody is going to talk about decisions and video decisions
:26:31. > :26:36.and not going to video referees for tries and not looking at certain
:26:37. > :26:40.aspects for their tries and ruling Don's try out. We have a lot of
:26:41. > :26:43.tough calls today. We wouldn't have minded a few of them ourselves and
:26:44. > :26:47.be in a different position, that's the sport, you can't take anything
:26:48. > :26:51.away from what Warrington have done. They had a good dig and have been
:26:52. > :26:55.brilliant the last two weeks, you wish them all the best but lots of
:26:56. > :26:58.what ifs in there if we had our calls.
:26:59. > :27:02.Well certainly not happy after that match. Did he have a point,
:27:03. > :27:08.Jonathan? Throughout the season it even it is self out, for me the best
:27:09. > :27:15.side won. They should have won by more to be honest. There was that
:27:16. > :27:21.kind of element of doubt. They were always worried about St Helens, they
:27:22. > :27:26.totally dominated. Sims, Hill and Clarke were superb and two pieces of
:27:27. > :27:30.magic by Ratchford and won the outcome of the game. For me the best
:27:31. > :27:34.side won. Is it a pity that video referees is what we are talking
:27:35. > :27:38.about afterwards? Well, I think we have changed the system twice now.
:27:39. > :27:46.We are still getting a little bit of confusion. Ciaran will be upset, he
:27:47. > :27:50.will reflect on that and both teams will look at what they could have
:27:51. > :27:53.done better. They were debatable the tries but they always are. When you
:27:54. > :27:58.slow something down and look at these things in the light of day
:27:59. > :28:03.there might be 10,000 people in the stadium tonight and 5,000 opinions
:28:04. > :28:07.one way and 5,000 the other. Take criticism away from the referee, we
:28:08. > :28:10.had a heated debate earlier in the pie shed as we call it about what
:28:11. > :28:14.they should and shouldn't do. I think the system is right. The video
:28:15. > :28:19.referee needs to be more clinical if he thinks he has evidence. The St
:28:20. > :28:23.Helens try f the referee said I think it's a try on the field, the
:28:24. > :28:27.video referee would have given it. That's a debate that could run and
:28:28. > :28:32.run. Sadly, we don't have time to go all the way on it. Earlier this week
:28:33. > :28:36.the 2016 dream team was announced. Here it is.
:28:37. > :28:39.Five superleague clubs are represented this year with Hull FC
:28:40. > :28:49.six players and four from Warrington dominating the selection. There are
:28:50. > :28:55.nine debuts in the side. The winners of this year's Challenge Cup and
:28:56. > :28:59.league leaders shield make up the four.
:29:00. > :29:16.In the back division both wingers are debutants.
:29:17. > :29:23.So is that a correct dream team for you? Yes, I think it is. I don't
:29:24. > :29:28.think there is any massive ommissions. I think that for me that
:29:29. > :29:31.is a fair reflection of the season. Have you seen two teams dominate
:29:32. > :29:36.quite so much with Hull and Warrington there? It's unusual. I
:29:37. > :29:39.think they're the best two teams, the Challenge Cup finalists, they'll
:29:40. > :29:43.be talked about and deserve to be in the team. That's right. If it was
:29:44. > :29:50.Wigan and Saints they would dominate the side. Looking to this game,
:29:51. > :29:53.Wigan without a lot of big names. But they've been like that all year,
:29:54. > :29:58.do you think they can cope with that tonight? I think they play to a
:29:59. > :30:06.structure where whoever they put in they step into that structure.
:30:07. > :30:09.Tonight is all about Hull, if they can find their mojo they have an
:30:10. > :30:15.opportunity of going to the grand final. After the Challenge Cup
:30:16. > :30:19.they've dropped their energy and they've lost that belief they had
:30:20. > :30:20.throughout the season. For me Hull are the better side but have they
:30:21. > :30:35.got enough left in the tank? Ellis is missing, the man is
:30:36. > :30:40.missing. Ellis, he is the heartbeat of that team and het gets them
:30:41. > :30:45.through sticky patches. It is about energy for Hull, for Wigan and their
:30:46. > :30:49.structure I would like to sea Shaun snip the purse strings a bit and
:30:50. > :30:53.offload football. I remember a game when they got down to 12 men and
:30:54. > :30:56.they played brilliant rugby league, which got them over the line. If
:30:57. > :31:03.they can mix their style up I fancy Wigan. Who will face Warrington in
:31:04. > :31:15.next weekend Grand Final? Wigan or Hull?
:31:16. > :31:29.Jonasson. And Wigan are coasting. Fantastic offload. Wigan are right
:31:30. > :31:38.back in the contest. What a game this is.
:31:39. > :31:42.They are 80 minutes from anticipation, or desolation. Hull
:31:43. > :31:46.still on course for a potential double, Wigan desperate to get back
:31:47. > :31:51.to rugby league's top table, but the year is all over, for the losers
:31:52. > :31:56.tonight. Hull have one trophy in the bag
:31:57. > :32:03.already, of course, the Challenge Cup. Wigan desperate to make 2016
:32:04. > :32:10.memorable for something here. This is the way they have lining up
:32:11. > :32:14.tonight, Wigan missing some of their star names, skipper Shaun O'Loughlin
:32:15. > :32:18.and Sam Tomkins rule out. Their first choice front row, is either
:32:19. > :32:24.injured or suspended. But they still keep winning games.
:32:25. > :32:30.Hull can also play the injury card tonight. Captain and man of steel
:32:31. > :32:39.candidate Gareth Ellis sidelined with a hand injury. Robert Hicks is
:32:40. > :32:45.our referee tonight. Big game atmosphere, big game. Old Trafford
:32:46. > :32:48.and Warrington are waiting the winners.
:32:49. > :32:51.It has been a scrappy start to the game but Wigan won't mind that if
:32:52. > :32:58.they can make something from this position. Two tackles to go. Powell
:32:59. > :33:05.now. Whisks to Smith. Smith and Williams with a little kick that is
:33:06. > :33:10.being chased heard and it's a Hull hand a that puts it dead. Clever
:33:11. > :33:15.play, a little kick. Farrell is in front of the ball there, just get it
:33:16. > :33:21.out to play. So is it has been for the most part
:33:22. > :33:25.Wigan, who are dominant in this hoping six-and-a-half minute, they
:33:26. > :33:32.will have another set to have a go at this no doubt fatiguing Hull
:33:33. > :33:38.defence, that is great Nuuausala, Bateman coming in on the angle. And
:33:39. > :33:48.Wigan start the set again in a very good position.
:33:49. > :33:55.A step by Sarginson. Gelling. Real character Anthony Gelling.
:33:56. > :33:58.It is Williams, Powell out of dummy half rather who puts it back to
:33:59. > :34:05.Smith. Driven in by Crosby. Powell. Waiting again. Worked by
:34:06. > :34:10.Smith, across to Williams. Williams with a pass to Sarginson, who goes
:34:11. > :34:18.wide, to Tierney, who might just have found a way over the line here.
:34:19. > :34:22.He has. No need for a referral. Referee Robert Hicks happy enough
:34:23. > :34:27.that is a try, what a start for Wigan, they make their domination
:34:28. > :34:31.count. Just watch, they create the three on
:34:32. > :34:38.two here, there it is. They are not sure what to do. But that is a very
:34:39. > :34:48.good finish by Tierney. They turn the pressure into points.
:34:49. > :34:52.Very good finish. Smith looking to add the two. Oh my
:34:53. > :34:57.word! That was a horrible kick. I don't know what went on there but
:34:58. > :35:02.that was an absolute horrible kick. Think he has hurt his foot. It is
:35:03. > :35:08.like a golfer failing to get off the teat a the Ryder Cup, wasn't it.
:35:09. > :35:17.Powell. Smith. He is going to go, to Williams and
:35:18. > :35:23.this is Farrell. Hull defending more or less in their own line at moment.
:35:24. > :35:27.Sarginson will probe here with a pass that didn't give Gildart much
:35:28. > :35:30.to work with. I thought Sarginson could have gone on his own, the
:35:31. > :35:35.defence drifted, dummy and gone. Sarginson again. Williams. Putting
:35:36. > :35:40.the kick in, Shaul is after this, had to tidy this up and get out the
:35:41. > :35:45.danger donings he is not going to get there. Enthusiasm for the Wigan
:35:46. > :35:50.defenders. It is a second Hull drop out of the game. A lovely kick by
:35:51. > :35:55.Williams. Shaul gets it. Turns the wrong way, that is where the
:35:56. > :36:01.defenders were, and I think Wigan t plan would be to get the repeat set,
:36:02. > :36:04.keep the intensity up, they have lost their energy levels after the
:36:05. > :36:13.Challenge Cup, and haven't regained them. Wigan will be rye doing that.
:36:14. > :36:23.Nuuausala is providing plenty of punch here tonight, isn't he.
:36:24. > :36:28.Gelling. Cutting back in. Here is Crosby.
:36:29. > :36:33.Again, their position is good here, Wigan.
:36:34. > :36:41.With tackles to play with. William, Farrell, Tierney. Same formula, same
:36:42. > :36:45.outcome, Tierney with his second of the night, and Wigan with less than
:36:46. > :36:52.14 minutes plays are wrestling control of this game early on.
:36:53. > :36:59.This is where he gets caught in the repeat set. Again, down the same
:37:00. > :37:02.side. They just gather numbers there, there is one dummy runner
:37:03. > :37:08.that holes the defence, they won't be happy the Hull defence, one comes
:37:09. > :37:16.up, one stays back, once in, all in, very good play by Wigan. Sir Bradley
:37:17. > :37:20.Wiggins, he appreciates that moment. So Matty Smith, his first attempt
:37:21. > :37:28.from here was pretty disastrous, what about the second? He is getting
:37:29. > :37:35.closer, but it remains 8-0. Again, just watch, the dummy run e
:37:36. > :37:40.one shoots out to the line by Hull. Sam Tomkins's role is one of
:37:41. > :37:43.supporter from the touchline with a foot injury that has ruled him out
:37:44. > :37:52.of Wigan's season and the international season. England, trail
:37:53. > :37:59.and Scotland in the four nations which you can see on the BBC this
:38:00. > :38:03.year, all games live. Caught by Bateman, he injectings pace, and
:38:04. > :38:07.offloads to Smith. Smith goes to his right. Here is Williams not a lot of
:38:08. > :38:12.room in which to work. His intentions are suffocated quickly by
:38:13. > :38:20.the three Hull defenders. Bretherton.
:38:21. > :38:31.Propping it four. Sixth tackle coming up. Shore rocks spins wide.
:38:32. > :38:38.Back to one.ed the vansing player, Bateman almost to the tunnel. To get
:38:39. > :38:51.to that try line, but did he come up and touchdown? Bateman saw the line.
:38:52. > :38:55.He didn't go round or over them, he went under them. Does he lose the
:38:56. > :39:00.ball here? Good finish. That was a terrific
:39:01. > :39:07.finish. Absolutely sensational from John Bateman. Here is the decision,
:39:08. > :39:11.try is given. Timely as well. There is a Smith conxxxx conversion to
:39:12. > :39:15.come, but that will be the last agent of the first half. John
:39:16. > :39:21.Bateman's try. He has missed a couple from outside, he won't miss
:39:22. > :39:23.the one in front of the sticks so half-time, Wigan a deserved 14-0
:39:24. > :39:44.lead. That is with Watts and Sneyd who
:39:45. > :39:55.hurls a poor pass, it really was, picked up. Poor play. Sneyd here is
:39:56. > :40:02.Watts. Wigans are enjoying chanting the name of Sneyd here tonight. He
:40:03. > :40:12.has not had the best of games. Tuimavave. On the angle comes
:40:13. > :40:16.Washbrook. The offload has got Bowden away and Hull might, I say
:40:17. > :40:22.might have claimed their first trial of the night.
:40:23. > :40:32.He thinks it is S Wigan defenders trying to snatch it off him but has
:40:33. > :40:38.he got it down? Here is the finish. Try. The fact the referee has given
:40:39. > :40:46.it helps the whole cause doesn't it. Yes. No conclusive evidence
:40:47. > :40:50.against... The onfield decision remains. Bowden have a try. Have
:40:51. > :40:58.Hull got a foot hold back many this game? This is a lovely play. It
:40:59. > :41:01.stretches defence, lovely inside ball, spins in the tackle. Bowden is
:41:02. > :41:06.there, that is the third time he has had a good run in this half, he
:41:07. > :41:12.deserves something, he has made an impact since coming on. Drags
:41:13. > :41:24.across, he brings shore rocks round, creates the space, and there is good
:41:25. > :41:27.support. Bowden scores. It stretches defence, lovely inside ball, spins
:41:28. > :41:30.in the tackle. Bowden is there, that is the third time he has had a good
:41:31. > :41:32.run in this half, he deserves something, he has made an impact
:41:33. > :41:34.since coming on. Drags across, he brings Shorrocks round, creates the
:41:35. > :41:37.space, and there is good support. Bowden scores. Gb 14-6, something to
:41:38. > :41:38.cheer at last for those in black-and-white.
:41:39. > :41:45.Smith kicks it away. Has that given renewed belief to
:41:46. > :41:50.Hull FC? Minichiello was almost the recipient of a forward pass.
:41:51. > :42:01.Shaul. Out of dummy half. There is an extra spring about Hull now.
:42:02. > :42:13.There is. There is. Tuimavave. Washbrook. He made things happen.
:42:14. > :42:28.Thompson. Sneyd to Minichiello. Minichiello is troubling them. Good
:42:29. > :42:31.yard, good set this. Tuimavave, kicking beyond. Sarginson takes it
:42:32. > :42:37.easily, he has lost it, he has lost it! The referee is saying play on
:42:38. > :42:41.and a zero tackle. Look at this for an opportunity for Hull. There is a
:42:42. > :42:47.tackle from behind. That has to be a yellow card. Knocked down by Farrell
:42:48. > :42:52.and a penalty for offside. An element of panic to Wigan at the
:42:53. > :42:58.moment. Yes. That is a yellow card. That is a professional foul and that
:42:59. > :43:05.should be ten minutes. Hull have another set. And a renewed
:43:06. > :43:09.sense of purpose here, no doubt. This last four or five minutes is
:43:10. > :43:13.the best we have seen of them in the entire game, so far.
:43:14. > :43:21.And the Hull fans are making a racquet.
:43:22. > :43:24.Sneyd wide to Yeaman. Too many defenders there to attempt the pass.
:43:25. > :43:36.The winger would have had nowhere to go. Bowden.
:43:37. > :43:43.Stepping in. And stepping up. Shaul and over he goes. Watts crashes in,
:43:44. > :43:48.it is a second Hull try, in the space of three-and-a-half minutes.
:43:49. > :43:53.Boy, do we have a cup tie now. That is a great angle by Liam Watts. That
:43:54. > :43:59.is where they have had success this year. Their forwards. Just tearing
:44:00. > :44:03.everyone up, piling in going in forward.
:44:04. > :44:09.So Marc Sneyd with a chance to win another two to put this over and
:44:10. > :44:13.Hull are back with a chance. Who would have thought that, they could
:44:14. > :44:21.dramatically claw their way back in to this contest, but they are 14-12,
:44:22. > :44:35.with half an hour still to play. Lovely ball, great angle. Sarginson.
:44:36. > :44:43.Powell. Nuuausala. Dealt with relatively easily. Couple to go.
:44:44. > :44:48.They have reached the last tackle here.
:44:49. > :44:53.Back with William, now it is Smith. Smith with a kick, chased after it,
:44:54. > :44:57.was he dragged down? Yes he was, taken off the ball. Penalty given by
:44:58. > :44:59.the referee. It has been an interesting call.
:45:00. > :45:07.Definitely penalty, will they go for goal? I doubt it. The tee is on.
:45:08. > :45:12.They are going for goal. Matty Smith has not had the best of kicking
:45:13. > :45:16.nights tonight. No he hasn't. He can quickly rectify that. It is an
:45:17. > :45:21.interesting call when the bench says go for two points, on the field you
:45:22. > :45:27.can really feel what the best decision is, I don't think you can
:45:28. > :45:35.feel it from the stands. Stands. Well, Smith puts it over, Wigan lead
:45:36. > :45:43.now by 16-12. Wigan's defence is on its own line. Backs to the wall
:45:44. > :45:52.stuff for Wigan at the moment. Hull sensing, sensing they could get
:45:53. > :45:57.something here. Danny Houghton, flicks it on.
:45:58. > :46:02.Brought back towards this centre spot. Shaul's pass. Yeaman. Yeaman
:46:03. > :46:07.will take on Gelling. Gelling is not for being beaten.
:46:08. > :46:16.It is breathless stuff at the moment. To snaid. Snaid now, here is
:46:17. > :46:21.to Tuimavave. Shaul joins the line, the kick for the corner it is lost
:46:22. > :46:27.by Tierney, was there a touch there? The referee says play on. Wigan are
:46:28. > :46:33.away, it is going to be ged who runs down the left-hand side, they will
:46:34. > :46:38.chase hard, they will not catch, ged scores but I don't think that is the
:46:39. > :46:47.end of it. -- Gildart. I think the referee might be asking a couple of
:46:48. > :46:53.questions here. It might be a try at either end. You have to look now if
:46:54. > :46:58.the ball was grounded. Think this is a first, isn't it. A video referee
:46:59. > :47:03.to find out if we have a try at one end or a try at the other end? They
:47:04. > :47:07.only have to look at the Hull. If there is down warted pressure, here
:47:08. > :47:13.is the play, it is a great little kick. No full-back at home, everyone
:47:14. > :47:23.is onside. Tierney gets to it. Then loses it. Now here we go, is this
:47:24. > :47:33.grounded? Just watch. Oh. Is that enough from Michaels? Sounds like he
:47:34. > :47:40.has a finger on it P This is a massive call. It is not the
:47:41. > :47:44.Icelandic clap you can hear, it is the get on with it clap you are
:47:45. > :47:48.hearing. The longer it goes on. Put your Necton block and call, that is
:47:49. > :47:54.your job. So here goes a big, big decision in
:47:55. > :48:02.the context of the season, and the night. Steve Michaels is given the
:48:03. > :48:08.try. That defies belief in some quarter, it will be greeted with
:48:09. > :48:12.triumph in others. Michaels' try makes it all square.
:48:13. > :48:17.You have to credit Hull, they have pulled them off and fought their way
:48:18. > :48:22.back into this game. Tuimavave has been a big part of it. Shaul kicks,
:48:23. > :48:36.Tierney loses it. I don't think that is a try. How dig is this kick? What
:48:37. > :48:41.about a touchline conversion to put his side within touching distance of
:48:42. > :48:48.the Grand Final. He has nailed it. He has nailed it! And from 14-0
:48:49. > :48:58.down, Hull are now leading. Almost into the last ten minutes.
:48:59. > :49:02.Powell, Smith. Here comes Williams, Williams with a dummy, Williams.
:49:03. > :49:10.Oh... Inches away from dragging himself over. Farrell, back to Smith
:49:11. > :49:14.again. Powell. Powell, to Gelling. Gelling with the dancing feet.
:49:15. > :49:22.Flicks it to Charnley. Powell. Here is Bateman. Bit of a
:49:23. > :49:29.gap. Can't get through. They have to go left, now, quickly. Sixth tackle
:49:30. > :49:36.coming up. Smith inside for Isa. Flicks it away, Powell. Powell has
:49:37. > :49:43.got it! Powell with the try. It is Wigan back with the lead. Is that
:49:44. > :49:53.decisive? Or is there response yet from Hull? But you can see what it
:49:54. > :49:59.means for those in cherry and white. Great play by Smith. Finds Isa, it's
:50:00. > :50:08.a brilliant offload. Desperate offload. Powell is is there to
:50:09. > :50:14.support him. Wigan back in front. Matty Smith to reestablish the four
:50:15. > :50:24.point lead, over it goes. It is 22-18. Now, it is over to Hull, what
:50:25. > :50:33.have they got in reserve? The drums are beating. At either end. This is
:50:34. > :50:38.a big set, just Wigan now will take this up, there won't be many passes
:50:39. > :50:43.in this and a kick over the touchline. Sarginson. A great set
:50:44. > :50:49.from Wigan. Taking it a long way down field.
:50:50. > :50:57.Yes, one more in and then Smith will look to put it over the touchline.
:50:58. > :51:02.Here comes Matty Smith. Chips it. Making Hull play at it. Shaul
:51:03. > :51:07.collects, has to get out of there and he can't. Charnley drags it back
:51:08. > :51:11.in and Wigan celebrate that moment as if that is the match winner and
:51:12. > :51:19.it might just be because they should get the ball back here from the drop
:51:20. > :51:24.out. Lovely kick. Watch the chase. Smith gets there first. Charnley
:51:25. > :51:27.drags him into the end goal. He recovered the ball in his own try
:51:28. > :51:31.line. There he is there to make a tackle.
:51:32. > :51:35.They are going to go short. They want that ball back, it has gone ten
:51:36. > :51:38.metres. Farrell punched it backwards,
:51:39. > :51:46.Tierney has it. Tierney! Through the gap. Tierney with a step, snaid
:51:47. > :51:53.grabs a hold. Two-and-a-half minutes to go. They are short. Gildart
:51:54. > :51:59.running. They are short on the left-hand side. If they doll right
:52:00. > :52:03.they score. Crosby, Powell goes the other way,
:52:04. > :52:06.tries to drive over. An try wins it for certain here for
:52:07. > :52:17.Wigan. The clock is on their side.
:52:18. > :52:23.Smith. Sarginson. Gelling. Gelling, Wigan are going to Old Trafford.
:52:24. > :52:29.Gelling knows that, his team-mates know that, everybody knows that now,
:52:30. > :52:37.it has been a sensational semifinal, but it is Wigan who are on their way
:52:38. > :52:42.to the Grand Final. Desolation on one side, pure
:52:43. > :52:48.celebration on the other. Wigan have found a way to win. Gelling just
:52:49. > :52:52.sneaked over, that is what it means to these player, getting into the
:52:53. > :53:03.Super League Grand Final. It has been one hell of a second half. You
:53:04. > :53:06.are going to Old Trafford and this squad has been through the rafters
:53:07. > :53:11.this past season, to get there is some achievement. We have been
:53:12. > :53:15.through a lot. A lot of injury, a lot of big layers out. It is a
:53:16. > :53:21.massive achievement for the young lads. We are looking forward to it.
:53:22. > :53:29.Your side gave it everything out there?. . Yes. All we did in the
:53:30. > :53:34.first half, seemed to defend, and I think it paid in the end, but great
:53:35. > :53:39.effort by the boys to come back in the second half, we nearly went out
:53:40. > :53:43.at the end but... I am smothered in disappointment tonight. In the main
:53:44. > :53:47.we have been consistent this year, it has not been fluke, we are not
:53:48. > :53:50.one season wonders, the group are going to stay together, we will be
:53:51. > :53:55.better for that, there are a couple of adigs that will make us better,
:53:56. > :54:00.so, yes, I think on wards and upwards for next season. I have
:54:01. > :54:04.every respect for what Lee has done. They are a fantastic club with a
:54:05. > :54:08.fantastic roster, to get that win was satisfying. You weren't getting
:54:09. > :54:14.worried in the second half? No we have won so many games this year, we
:54:15. > :54:19.know with the last gasp tries so I am used to it. We will be, we have
:54:20. > :54:24.to a challenge with Warrington next week but we will be there or
:54:25. > :54:28.thereabouts. When I said I was leaving I said I am focussed on
:54:29. > :54:32.getting a bit of silverware before I left, so, yes, putting that game
:54:33. > :54:37.today, you know, it is 80 minutes away from doing what I have said.
:54:38. > :54:41.Jonathan, what a fantastic and dramatic second half we had. Yes,
:54:42. > :54:45.the second half was superb, I thought that Hull were, looked out
:54:46. > :54:50.of it, dead and buried in the first half. I don't know what he said at
:54:51. > :54:55.half-time but they came out with all guns blazing. Tuimavave stepped up a
:54:56. > :54:59.bit. Took a bit of pressure off Sneyd. It was last minute a try by
:55:00. > :55:03.Gelling to secure their place in the final. A brilliant second half. I am
:55:04. > :55:07.delighted for Hull. After the Challenge Cup they haven't played
:55:08. > :55:11.very well. It is great for them to pinnish on a high. Wigan, they have
:55:12. > :55:16.got some character in that rank, those youngsters. And with a lot of
:55:17. > :55:18.kids, they have had the same injury problems of most big teams and they
:55:19. > :55:23.have come through the other side better, we thought it was going to
:55:24. > :55:28.be 30-0 but they stormed away in the first half with cracking tries, but
:55:29. > :55:31.Irene force what was said, and Lee Radford must have given them round
:55:32. > :55:34.the houses at half-time. They came out a different team. They couldn't
:55:35. > :55:38.quite defend their own chalk well enough. Full credit to Wigan, many
:55:39. > :55:44.teams would have crumbled when Hull went ahead in that second half. They
:55:45. > :55:47.found their resolve, Wigan and the determination to post another couple
:55:48. > :55:54.of scores. Warrington versus Wigan, how do you see it going? It is very
:55:55. > :55:58.tough to call both semifinals. I was impressed by Warrington's front row
:55:59. > :56:02.yesterday, they run from half-backs, they haven't got the cutting-edge I
:56:03. > :56:06.thought they did v so selection will be interesting, but again, Wigan
:56:07. > :56:11.with the structure they have and the youngsters, with the performance,
:56:12. > :56:16.the belief they have, they will go in thinking they are underdogs, it
:56:17. > :56:21.is a dauful. Warrington just start as favourite, I think, but again,
:56:22. > :56:26.anyone's game. You are sitting on the fence! I think Warrington just.
:56:27. > :56:30.What about you Brian The team with the most energy, after this winter
:56:31. > :56:33.night that will enthuse Wigan, so Warrington have their hands full.
:56:34. > :56:38.They have unfinished business, they have lost a Grand Final and they
:56:39. > :56:42.haven't quite got it on their their CV I am probably just tipping
:56:43. > :56:49.Warrington. It is Warrington versus wig none the Grand Final and we will
:56:50. > :56:55.have highlights of that game on BBC Two. Before that we have highlights
:56:56. > :57:01.of the Million Pound Game, Hull versus Salford. Highlights tomorrow
:57:02. > :57:04.BBC Two at 6.00. So just one weekend left of the domestic rugby league
:57:05. > :57:08.season, but the rugby league doesn't stop there here on the BBC. In just
:57:09. > :57:33.four weeks' time, the four nations starts, and it starts with this.
:57:34. > :57:41.Our coverage starts on Saturday 29th October, with England versus New
:57:42. > :57:47.Zealand, live. We will also have highlights of Australia against Scot
:57:48. > :57:50.Scotland. That is BBC One at 1.15. The Four Nations how will they get
:57:51. > :57:54.on? I don't think Scotland will do well, unfortunately. It's a
:57:55. > :57:57.development, you know, for them. They are up against the big three,
:57:58. > :58:03.you don't expect much from them, but they will gain a lot 06 experience
:58:04. > :58:06.from it. Englandic just think, half-backs selection is crucial, if
:58:07. > :58:11.they go well at half-backs, I think they have got a great chance of
:58:12. > :58:17.doing particular I well. Wane what will he bring, what Stam of Wayne
:58:18. > :58:23.Bennett will we see Wayne's world. He will make a difference game day,
:58:24. > :58:27.he says some things and does things that will enthuse the squad, so we
:58:28. > :58:31.will see, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. I think he
:58:32. > :58:36.will make a big difference. All that is to come, here, Wigan have booked
:58:37. > :58:41.their place in the Grand Final to take on Warrington. My thanks to
:58:42. > :59:19.Brian and Jonathan, we will see you there.
:59:20. > :59:21.JOHNNY CASH: # You can run on for a long time