Kevin Sinfield kicked a last-gasp penalty to take Leeds to Old Trafford and shatter Warrington's hopes of a first Grand Final appearance.
Referee Steve Ganson's late decision to award a penalty for offside proved crucial, Sinfield landing his fifth goal of the night to steal victory.
Ryan Hall (2), Carl Ablett and Rob Burrow ran in Leeds' four tries.
Chris Riley (2), Joel Monaghan and Matt King crossed for the Wolves in a heart-breaking Halliwell Jones classic.
Warrington winger King thought he had won the game for his side nine minutes from the end but his try was disallowed by video referee Ian Smith, who four minutes later also ruled out what would have been a hat-trick by Leeds winger Hall.
But, instead, as so many times before, Sinfield proved was the hero as the Rhinos reached a fourth Grand Final in five years in the most dramatic fashion - against the team who had chosen to play them.
With the scores locked at 24-24 and the tie heading for extra time, Ganson blew up and the Leeds captain kept his cool from 35 metres.
It was the decisive act of a pulsating finale which reduced Warrington's players to tears as the Rhinos - who finished fifth in Super League XVI - become the first team from outside the top three to reach the Grand Final.
The outcome was tough on the Wolves, who have been the outstanding team in Super League in 2011, but full reward for the in-form Yorkshiremen, who maintained Sinfield's pledge to take on the free-scoring Wolves at their own game.
Former Leeds boss Tony Smith's side had been in rampant form against the Rhinos in their last three meetings, running in 20 tries in the process.
Leeds fans have painful memories of last season's 30-6 Challenge Cup Final hammering at Wembley.
And the Rhinos have shipped seven tries to the Wire in both this season's two Super League encounters, losing 40-24 at the Halliwell Jones in March, before being routed 42-6 on home soil in May.
But, since putting up such a much better performance at Wembley a month ago, in losing the Challenge Cup Final for the second year running, to Wigan, Leeds have bounced back by winning four matches on the spin, running in 29 tries in the process.
And they struck the first blow at the Halliwell Jones when, from Danny McGuire's kick, fit-again Carl Ablett raced in for a fourth minute try, Sinfield adding the extras.
But Wire were level by the 15th minute when Monaghan got over, before winger Chris Riley came in off his line to go under the posts on 34 minutes, Bridge's two conversions earning a 12-6 lead.
It looked like Warrington might now be on their way, yet, within a minute of the restart, Leeds stunned the home side by levelling through their top scorer Hall, Sinfield's boot tieing things up again at 12-12.
Warrington were back with a six-point cushion when King scored the Wire's third try eight minutes after the break.
But Leeds turned it round on the hour, with two tries in three minutes, the first engineered by Burrow for Hall, the second scored by the little scrum-half himself.
Riley hit back with a second try, Bridge again improving, to leave it tied up at 24-24, with just 10 minutes left. But then came those three crucial late refereeing calls - and it was unfancied Leeds who ended up with the smiles on their faces.
Source:BBC
No comments:
Post a Comment