WOOLF WANTS HISTORIC WIN
JONNY LOMAX stuck the knife into Salford to leave champions St Helens 80 minutes away from Super League immortality. The England scrum-half, 32, was outstanding as Kristian Woolf’s side proved too strong for the Red Devils in this play-off semi-final.
Architect of the victory was Lomax, who had a hand in all three tries.
Saints will be the first team to win four successive Grand Finals if they beat Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The men from Headingley are the other team to have won three on the spin, all against Saints from
2007-2009.
Woolf, who is leaving at the end of the season to return to Australia, is backing his men to make history in his final game in charge.
He said: “I thought Jonny was great and had a real influence on the game. I don’t think Jonny gets enough recognition for how good he is.
“This is the fourth successive Grand Final and they will have played a different team every season.that shows you how hard it is to get there, let alone win when you get there. It’s going to be a cracking game.”
Woolf’s side dominated the first half as Joe Batchelor scored twice from kicks by
Lomax, whose drop goal gave Saints a 13-6 half-time lead after Kallumwatkins finished a flowing Salford move.
Ryan Brierley scored from a delightful break to bring Salford back within a point but full-back Jon Bennison’s try sealed it for Saints, who had Morgan Knowles and Tommy Makinson sin-binned.
Salford boss Paul Rowley admitted: “We didn’t throw enough at Saints and weren’t as clinical as in weeks gone by. You can’t question the character, though.”