Rugby League: Cup win our goal – Chester

Josh Mantellato, who also kicked five goals, crossed the white line, while Ken Sio, Kevin Larroyer and Shaun Lunt all grabbed one try each.

By converting Lunt’s 76th-minute try, Mantellato sealed the win and set up a first Challenge Cup final for Hull since 1986 – which will be against Leeds Rhinos at Wembley on August 29.

“I haven’t been a professional for that long and so to be going to Wembley is unreal”.

“With that remaining kick to seal the sport, I used to be simply glad it was shut sufficient to the posts!”

“The fans have been unbelievable”.

Gareth O’Brien curled in the conversion and for Rovers, playing their first Challenge Cup semi-final in nine years and on the back of that four-game losing sequence, you sensed it could already be a critical passage.

Delighted coach Chris Chester said: “That was a fantastic performance from my guys”.

Warrington, seeking to make the final for the fourth time in seven years, started brilliantly after Ryan Atkins finished off a sweeping team move after Hull KR let the opening kick-off bounce dead.

“I’m really proud of the boys’ efforts, especially towards the end”, said Chester.

Hull KR ended the regular Super League season with four straight defeats and must now battle to retain their top-flight status in the Super 8s, but that will be of little immediate concern to their army of fans as they prepare for their first cup final since 1986.

However, the return of Hill and Sims added more potency to the Wolves’ attack and they took advantage of a handling error from Sio inside his own 20-metre area to claw their way back into contention, with Myler taking O’Brien’s pass and dummying his way over for a second try.

‘People have written us off all year but there is still a lot of confidence and belief in this group and we now want to go one further.

“I got a bit emotional in the dressing room, it means a lot to a lot of people”.

Coach Tony Smith concedes that failing to build on their scintillating start ultimately proved costly.

“But no one remembers a beaten finalist so we’ve got to up our game and try to make some history for the club”.

With the penalty count heavily in their favour Hull KR continued to press, and after their sixth penalty their game management came to the fore when Mantellato opted to knock over a routine penalty rather than go for the jugular, extending the lead to six at half-time.

‘They played to the situation and deserved to win.

“The fact that we’re asking more questions offensively is certainly helping our defence”. We didn’t play as well as we needed to.