Sam Burgess fired a warning to Wigan as George Williams delivered yet another masterclass to see Warrington roar back to Wembley.
The mesmeric England captain was at his scintillating best as Wolves walloped hapless Huddersfield. He scored one brilliant solo try and had a hand in plenty more as Warrington booked a Challenge Cup final date with Wigan on June 8. The joint-Super League leaders were too good for error-ridden Giants from start to finish, Ian Watson’s under-performing side losing their cool in the searing heat.
Jake Connor was sin-binned for shoving Josh Thewlis in the face in the 68th minute. He'd earlier sparked a brawl after nudging the Warrington winger into an advertising board. But it’s a shame Huddersfield hadn’t shown more fight when it really mattered.
Silky stand-off Williams ran the show. Wolves boss Burgess first played with him for England in 2016 but he’s arguably playing better than ever.
On the 29 year-old’s development since, Burgess said: “It’s probably more so in the leadership stuff. He’s always been a brilliant player and the group respond to him. He’s part of our leadership and there’s three or four there who carry a lot of energy in the team.
Tom Johnstone faced “manic” time settling at Catalans Dragons after horrid 2022
“George is one of the most experienced players - he’s played in Australia, played in Grand Finals, been there and done it. He’s a really easy guy to follow. We scored some nice tries today. George and Duft [Matt Dufty]combined pretty well, we handled the big occasion well and I’m pleased we took the opportunity.
“We’ve got to Wembley but now we need to follow it through. Wigan are winning everything. But it’s up to us to take it off them.”
Warrington raced into an 18-0 lead in just 19 minutes to all but seal their Wembley deal and condemn Huddersfield to a fourth straight loss. They haven’t faced Wigan in a Challenge Cup final since 1990 and the halcyon days of Ellery Hanley and Mike Gregory. But it has the makings of a classic especially if Wolves continue in this vein.
Williams’ superb cut-out pass set Matty Ashton sprinting clear and the England captain supported to before beating Connor for Toby King to send Josh Drinkwater over on eight minutes. And they scored back-to-back tries as Matt Dufty arced through from long-distance for Ashton to cross. But Giants’ goalline defence was just as shambolic as they were fooled by Danny Walker dummying over from close range.
Adam Swift responded in the 25th minute as Huddersfield finally woke up. When Josh Thewlis sailed the restart dead, they had a chance to strike again - only for Olly Wilson to cheaply fumble. Similarly, they had another gilt-edged opportunity when Jake Connor put Swift into space again. But full-back Dufty produced a try-saving tackle and it proved crucial as, just moments later, Warrington were in for their fourth try on 34 minutes.
Warrington's George Williams celebrates his try (PA)Walker burst from deep again to find Williams who sped up the middle, left Connor rooted with another sidestep and then slowed to shrug off Adam Clune for a glorious 70m score. Williams’ delayed pass sent Dufty in for a deserved try on 48 minutes and then it was just damage-limitation for the battered Giants. Dufty added his second from Ben Currie’s runaround.
A huge melee erupted after Connor shoved Thewlis and Tui Lolohea squared up with Matty Nicholson before hauling him to the ground. Referee Liam Moore took no further action and it was all too little too late Giants getting fired up. Kevin Naiqama got a consolation try before Connor's yellow but Sam Powell and Rodrick Tai rounded things off for the jubilant Wolves.
Watson said: “We’re hurt. We had a plan to execute - and it didn’t materialise due to that first 20 minutes.”
On experienced full-back Connor’s ill-discipline, he added: “I need to speak to Jake about that first before speaking about it in the media. He deserves that. But we need to get on top of it.”
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
