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Brilliant Briers

Image: Warrington celebrate reaching their first Super League Grand Final

Stevo says the sublime skill of Lee Briers inspired Warrington to their first Super League Grand Final.

Stevo says the Wolves fully deserved their win over St Helens

Sky Sports expert Stevo says two pieces of sublime skill from Lee Briers inspired Warrington to a "fully deserved" victory over St Helens to set up their first Super League Grand Final appearance. The Wolves ended St Helens' run of six straight trips to Old Trafford with a 36-18 win at Langtree Park, two weeks after losing at home to Saints in the opening round of the play-offs. They had trailed 14-6 midway through the first half but roared back and sealed the win with a dominant second-half display. Trent Waterhouse and Chris Riley both scored two tries apiece for the Wolves with Joel Monaghan and Simon Grix also crossing but the performance of Briers was the decisive factor according to Stevo. "I think that it's good that we have a new team in the final. A lot of people, especially down in Australia, criticise the fact that it is only the top teams time and time again. They fully deserve it," he told Sky Sports. "The quality that they showed in that second half was terrific. They only had three opportunities in the first 40 minutes, and yet they were only two points adrift at the break. "Just before half time the pass from Briers to Briggs and also the kick just after the restart that allowed Joel Monaghan to score in the corner were two wonderful pieces of magic from Lee Briers. "And once they got in front they were never going to be stopped."

Omens

Fellow Sky Sports pundit Phil Clarke searched for some omens ahead of the Grand Final but concluded the Warrington's display against St Helens, especially in the second half, makes the Wolves favourites to take the title at Old Trafford next weekend. "Interestingly Warrington's second team, the under 20s, played in the Grand Final against Leeds Rhinos and were crowned the champions so it shows they are two very strong clubs with both their first and second teams making it through to the Grand Final," he said. "Whether Leeds can actually reverse that result next week I am not so sure because Warrington look very, very strong and were in control in that second half." And Clarke says St Helens can be satisfied with their efforts this season despite the disappointment of failing to reach the Grand Final having been in control in the first 20 minutes at Langtree Park. "We can't forget that St Helens have done quite well," he said. "They have got into the last four of the competition. "Earlier this year, when their supporters went five games without seeing them win a match, if you said they were going to get that close - 40 minutes away from a Grand Final - I think they would have been satisfied."

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