Spring has barely settled into a rhythm but in rugby league the big games do not take long to roll around. Here were two sides synonymous with success in the Challenge Cup looking to shrug off some early-season inconsistency and move within a game of Wembley.
Games between Warrington and St Helens are so often dramatic, but there is a familiar pattern emerging of late which continued again here. It was tense, but for the sixth consecutive game it was Sam Burgess’s Wolves who prevailed.
Big games are so often decided by big players and, while the Saints have their fair share, there are few who really step up when the stakes are quite at their highest like George Williams. With this enthralling quarter-final finely poised and Warrington ahead by just two points in the latter stages, the visitors looked set to break away and score the try that could have nudged them ahead.
However, when the ball went to ground Williams gathered, crabbed along a tiring St Helens defensive line, spotted a gap and broke from deep to put the tie beyond doubt and set up a semi-final against Leigh Leopards next month. It was the England captain at his very best and underlined why many believe he is the Super League’s best player.
There is a fair argument that, before Burgess’s arrival at Warrington, this would have been the kind of game they would have found a way to lose. But Burgess has instilled a grit and determination in this group and, with Williams at the heart of everything they do well in attack, they will fancy their chances of going all the way in the cup. They are now one win away from a return to Wembley, having just fallen short in the final against Wigan last year.
Leigh, the 2023 winners, stand in their way, with Hull KR and Catalans in the other semi-final next month. “We’ve worked hard but we’ve still got a long way to go,” Burgess said post-match. “I can’t question their commitment to each other, we’ve really turned a corner with it.”
After a sluggish start to 2025, including a heavy defeat by Wigan in Las Vegas, Warrington certainly appear to be improving. They were worthy winners in the end here, edging the tie’s decisive moments – including Williams’s late try.
It was level at the break after Matt Dufty and Tristan Sailor exchanged tries, but St Helens’ issues soon caught up with them. That included losing several players to head injuries in the opening 40 minutes, prompting a major reshuffle of their backline. It stunted their attacking rhythm and left them unable to regain momentum. “There’s some lessons to be learned for us in terms of winning big games moving forwards,” their coach, Paul Wellens, said.
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Williams was instrumental to everything the Wolves did well here, with his well-weighted kick leading to Ben Currie extending their lead to eight points either side of two goals from Marc Sneyd. St Helens reduced the gap when Daryl Clark scored against his former club to set up a thrilling finale, but chances then came and went for the Saints – underlined with nine minutes to go.
St Helens broke but turned the ball over, and Williams ultimately did the rest with a sensational breakaway try.
