Leeds Rhinos head coach Brad Arthur said:
“I’ve not whinged or complained the whole time I’ve been here. I’m extremely proud of our team and our club and players.
“I don’t know what more we could have really done. We got a couple of bits and pieces wrong but so did they. It just would have been really nice if the game was decided by an individual or a piece of skill.
“We’re talking about a field goal or something like that rather than a soft penalty to decide such a big game. It is a soft penalty.
“Ned got escorted four or five times tonight on kicks and I wasn’t expecting penalties for them. But that’s a soft penalty to decide such a big game.”
Warrington Wolves captain George Williams told BBC Radio Merseyside:
“Nerve-wracking, mad game, just pleased we’ve came through the other side.
“Credit to Leeds, they gave it a good crack. They’ve been a great team all year but we rode the waves and the main thing is we’re through to the big dance next week.
“They were probably dominant for the first 20 [minutes], we came home strong in the back end [of the first half]. It’s no good for the nerves but sometimes it’s better when you’re out there, you can do something about it.”
[On earning the match-winning penalty] “People think it might be a bit controversial but I was chasing the ball and I got a little nudge. I was off balance and nowadays, with the escorts, they give them. Luckily, it went to us and that was the game.”
Leeds: F. McCormack; Lumb, N. McCormack, Newman, Hall; Croft, Connor; Oledzki, O’Connor, Lodge, Watkins, McDonnell, Palasia.
Interchanges: Holroyd, Jenkins, Smith, Cassell.
Warrington: Josh Thewlis; Hopoate, Lindop, King, Ashton; Williams, Irwin; Byrne, Walker, Harrison, Bentley, Stone, Currie.
Interchanges: Yates, Powell, Philbin, Tanginoa.
Referee: Chris Kendall.
