London---St Helens will meet Leeds Rhinos in a blockbuster Challenge Cup semi-final tie and Saints skipper Jon Wilkin admits his side must take a leaf out of their opponents' book in order to reach the Wembley final.
The Saints' 36-20 quarter-final win over the Widnes Vikings was anything but comfortable, as the reigning Super League champions had to dig deep to mount a second-half comeback.
Despite leading by six points at half-time, former NZ Warrior Patrick Ah Van and Chris Dean turned the tide Widnes's way before Kyle Amor's intervention in the 63rd minute.
His try shattered the Vikings' resistance and kept St Helens on course for their first Challenge Cup final appearance since 2008.
In contrast, cup holders Leeds, marshalled by veteran Kevin Sinfield, cantered to a 24-6 win over Hull FC in their quarter-final -- and Wilkin says the Rhinos have set the standard.
"We were really soft in the first half, I felt our attitude and attention to detail in defence was poor," he said.
"It's a lesson in the big games that you need to control the ball and defend with intensity, and the three teams that have gone through have done that for different amounts of time.
"The most impressive have been Leeds, who did it for a full game against Hull. We're in the semi-finals nonetheless."
In a familiar scenario much of Leeds's hopes this year now rest on Sinfield, who was restored to the starting line-up following Liam Sutcliffe's season-ending knee injury.
Rugby union-bound Sinfield kicked six goals against Hull FC amid slippery conditions -- converting Joel Moon, Kallum Watkins and Zak Hardaker tries -- and Leeds boss Brian McDermott is happy to rely on his old hand.
"I have always said he'll have a significant part to play this year," McDermott said. "It's always been a case of rotation and squad management.
"Kevin and Rob (Burrow) managed that game really well. It came down to management of the weather."
Warrington Wolves scrapped to a 34-24 comeback victory over Championship club Leigh Centurions to set up their semi-final clash with Hull KR, but coach Tony Smith is taking no credit for his half-time team talk.
Down 14-12 at half-time, a terrific quickfire brace from Kevin Penny set Warrington on their way to the last four of a competition they have won three times since 2009.
"I didn't have to say a lot at half-time," said the Australian. "They knew they just needed to hang onto the ball and finish off their last plays.
"We just weren't concentrating right to the end of the sets. I thought we were doing okay, we were marching down the field well and if we had held onto the ball we could have had a comfortable lead."
AFP
