Stefan Ratchford relished early return in semi-final

The England international was called into the Wolves semi-final line-up just 24 hours before kick-off at Bolton but went on to play a key role in their 22-14 win over Hull which sets up a first major final clash with arch rivals St Helens on August 24.

Ratchford tore a pectoral muscle in his team's Super League defeat by Hull in May and expected to be out for another fortnight until selection matters took a sudden turn on the eve of Saturday's match.

When Josh Charnley picked up a minor knee injury in training, coach Steve Price came up with the idea of switching full-back replacement Jake Mamo onto the wing and Ratchford readily answered the call.

"I'd been kind of saying I was ready but I was probably pushing my luck a bit and I thought I'd have to wait another week or two," he said.

"But when we lost Charners, the coach asked me if I was ready to go and he was happy to go with what I was saying. All the medical staff were happy as well so we decided to get out there.

"They said 12 to 16 weeks and it's nine weeks and three days since the op so ideally we would have waited another week or two but it all kind of fell into place. I was more than ready to go."

Ratchford slotted effortlessly back into his role and also took on the goalkicking duties, converting three of the Wolves' four tries as they saw off the challenge of the Black and Whites.

"I was fine out there," he added. "The conditioning staff are really good and I've followed the protocol for five or six weeks.

"I've been doing a bit more each week and this past week we ramped it right up and there's probably not much more I could have done to prep myself.

"I didn't feel it once during the game. I wanted to get a touch or a tackle as early as possible.

"I was happy to be just out there. It's been a frustrating eight or nine weeks."

Warrington had lost their two previous league games but, with Ratchford's assistance, turned around their form to give themselves the chance to avenge last year's shock Wembley defeat by Catalans Dragons.

"One of the things we've been disappointed with the last couple of weeks was the way we've defended and, although we actually conceded a few breaks and half-breaks, I thought the way we scrambled and got back in numbers was really good," Ratchford said.