St Helens and Leeds Rhinos will contest the 2022 Betfred Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford next Saturday after beating Salford Red Devils and Wigan Warriors respectively in their semi-finals.
Two tries in five minutes from Joe Batchelor helped defending champions Saints to a 19-12 victory over Salford at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Tommy Makinson converted both tries for a 12-0 lead but Salford were given a helping hand when Morgan Knowles was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle on Chris Atkin.
The Red Devils took advantage as Kallum Watkins went through a gap for a try, which Marc Sneyd goaled, but Jonny Lomax put two scores between the teams with a drop goal on the stroke of half-time.
Salford cut the deficit to one point when slick handling got Joe Burgess into space and Ryan Brierley finished off with his 12th try of the campaign, which Sneyd again converted.
But the Saints came up with the decisive next score, with Lomax’s clever kick creating the all-important try from Jon Bennison.
Makinson’s third goal made it 19-12 but there was another dramatic twist when the England winger was sin-binned five minutes from the end for obstructing Salford centre Tim Lafai’s chase for the ball.
The 3,500 Salford fans screamed for a penalty try but Paul Rowley’s men had to settle for a penalty and 12-man Saints were able to defend their line and see out the victory.
On Friday, Leeds produced a remarkable display of grit and determination to condemn 12-man Wigan to a first home defeat of the season and reach an 11th Grand Final after a 20-8 win.
The Rhinos were under the cosh for virtually the whole of the first half at the DW Stadium but managed to restrict their opponents to a 4-2 interval lead – Liam Marshall crossing for the Warriors.
Makeshift hooker Jarrod O’Connor scored his first try for the club and James Bentley added two more to help Leeds to a stunning victory, with Zak Hardaker converting all three tries and adding a penalty.
The only disappointment for Leeds was an injury to scrum-half Aidan Sezer, who was taken off for a head injury assessment after being felled by a high and late
tackle by Wigan forward John Bateman, who was sent off, and is in danger of missing the Grand Final.
Wigan’s misery was compounded by the loss of try-scoring phenomenon Bevan French with a foot injury early in the second half and they trailed 20-4 before Sam Powell marked his 250th appearance for them with a late consolation try.
Defeat brought a disappointing end to the distinguished career of Wigan captain Thomas Leuluai, who made his 327th appearance in place of the injured Cade Cust.
