Warrington Wolves produced a second-half masterclass to set up a Challenge Cup semi-final with Huddersfield Giants as Sam Burgess’s brilliant start as manager continued with an impressive win Victory over St Helens.
Burgess has had a transformative impact since taking charge of Warrington in the off-season. Wolves are second in the Super League after the opening seven games and are just one win away from a trip to Wembley in Burgess’ first season in charge. It was also arguably their most accomplished performance under the former England superstar.
They trailed Saints 8-7 after a mesmerizing opening 50 minutes, but the final half-hour belonged to Warrington, who scored 24 points without any counterattack to a large extent. It was down to the outstanding performance of England captain George Williams that a place in the semi-finals was sealed. Saints had more than a game against Warrington in the early stages, but in the end, they had no complaints about the result.
They were eliminated in the end, with Marty Ashton, Connor Wrench, James Harrison and Williams himself all going one way or another to prove the result was beyond doubt. “I’m very happy with my effort,” Burgess said. “Everyone was just doing their job. I’m really happy for the guys, it was a great team performance.
Josh Thewlis’ strike gave Wolves an early lead, but in the final stages of the first half the Saints were undoubtedly the stronger of the two teams. Wolves took the lead when Jon Bennison converted Konrad Hurrell’s effort but Thewlis’ penalty and Williams’ Williams’ field goal just before halftime gave the Wolves a one-point lead at the break.
Bennison then converted a penalty to put Saints one point ahead: but what happened next left the home fans in silence. “I’m disappointed,” reflected St Helens coach Paul Wellens. “It’s a Grand Prix, it’s a Challenge Cup quarter-final, it’s an important derby game but we didn’t quite get it right.”
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this Kong KR Head coach Willie Peters has heaped praise on Joe Burgess and says the quick-footed winger is giving it his all at Craven after completing a 90m sprint in Saturday’s 26-14 cup win at Craven Park signs a new contract. profit.
Burgess signed a 12-month contract at the start of the season before a second try saw Rangers shake off the reigning champions and prepare for the same side who lost at Wembley last season. The team’s bitter experience took a measure of revenge.
After seeing his team make it back to the semi-finals, Peters said: “Joe’s speed was something we lacked last year and bringing in a guy like him gives us something we didn’t have last year. We still have to work around the team. There will be some decisions to make, but Joe will definitely do whatever it takes to extend his time here.
Wanderers clawed back a four-point deficit at half-time but despite a poor start to the season, Lee continued to chase until late strikes from Neil Evards and Elliot Minchella The team goes home.
Ian Watson praises huddersfield ‘Fantastic win’ after they shocked Chinese Super League leaders Catalonia Dragons, a 34-6 quarter-final victory in Perpignan. Defender Jake Connor was the star of the show, scoring 14 points including the first try, before Adam Milner and Adam Swift scored, Leading 16-0 at halftime.
Sebastine Ikahihifo put the Giants further ahead before Esan Marsters made it an improbable 26-0 and Dragons center Matt Iku Matt Ikuvalu regained some home honors. Kevin Naiqama produced a superb finish for Huddersfield to take his side into the semi-finals.
Watson said: “It’s a fantastic win for us, we’ve been slowly improving all season and we feel confident coming here. We love the weather here and it suits the way we want to play. We Love the dry fast track, we feel like we have the speed and we’re definitely a good fit as a team. AP average
However, Burgess’ side performed brilliantly when it mattered most. They went ahead when Ashton put Warrington back in front with a superb one-handed strike, and Wolves doubled their advantage six minutes later when Williams’ well-placed kick was knocked over by a wrench. For the first time in the game there was a two-point deficit: and Warrington didn’t stop there.
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Harrison burst through a tiring Saints defense to put the scoreline beyond doubt, before Williams finished off Matt Dufty’s superb breakaway in the dying seconds to cap off Burgess and Warrington’s standout performances so far in 2024 The foundations were laid and pushed them to the brink of the Wembley final in June.
