Challenge Cup holders Warrington have been drawn to face Hull in this season’s semi-finals with Wigan or Widnes set to play London Broncos.
The Wolves booked their place in the last four with a crushing 44-24 victory over Huddersfield at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday and will take on Hull, who ran out 24-13 winners over Catalan Dragons.
Wigan can join them in the semis if they overcome Widnes on Monday evening with Super League strugglers London Broncos awaiting the winners.
No doubt both Warrington and Wigan officials will be happy to have avoided each other in the draw but Wire coach Tony Smith was taking no pleasure from it and says Hull will still be a very hard game for his side.
“It didn’t really matter who we drew,” Smith said. “That’s doing a disservice to Hull. They are a good team and we’ve had some really good battles with them this year. We’ve had a draw and a loss so far.”
Warrington are bidding to make it a fourth Wembley victory in five years, but they will have to do it without Ryan Atkins who has been told he may need ankle surgery.
“Atkins is out for about eight weeks,” Smith added. “We might get him back for the last round of the regular season.
“We thought he might only be a week or two but when they had a look at it, he’s had some prior damage there and they needed to operate.”
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