Maguire: We're back where we belong

Coach Michael Maguire feels Wigan are back where they belong after seeing off arch rivals St Helens 18-12 in the first Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final at Warrington.

Outside backs George Carmont, Josh Charnley and Sam Tomkins scored tries and Pat Richards kicked three goals as the Warriors booked their first trip to Wembley since the infamous defeat by Sheffield Eagles in 1998.

Wigan won the Cup at Murrayfield in 2002 but it is 16 years since their last of their eight consecutive triumphs at Wembley and Maguire said: "It's great to see Wigan back where they belong. I'm very proud of the players."

He added: "At half-time, I commended them for their hard work. They just fought for each other to make sure they didn't get across the line."

Wigan kept their line intact for more than an hour and had built a sufficient advantage to render St Helens winger Jamie Foster's brace of tries little more than consolation.

After beating St Helens and Warrington to book their place in the August 27 final, in which they will meet the winners of Sunday's second semi-final between Castleford and Leeds, captain Sean O'Loughlin says the Warriors deserve their place at Wembley.

"It's a good feeling," said the England loose forward, whose brother-in-law Andy Farrell led Wigan to Cup glory nine years ago. "We've definitely done it the tough way and earned it."

For much of the first half, Saints looked the more likely finalists in Royce Simmons' first season as coach but, for the fourth time this year, they came up short against their arch rivals and have now lost at the semi-final stage in each of the last three seasons.

Simmons revealed afterwards that England internationals James Roby and James Graham both played with pain-killing injections to combat hand and neck injuries, and captain Paul Wellens led the tributes to his injured team-mates.

"Jammer's phenomenal," he said referring to Graham. "There was an stage early on in the week when he could hardly walk and I thought there was no chance could play in the game. It says so much about him as a character and a person. He made a sacrifice for us today and he's not the only guy. We had a few put their hands up and played through the pain barrier."