IT is often said that records are made to be broken, and this Wolves side are clearly in that kind of mood.

Saints had every reason to be confident, coming into the game as Super League’s form team with 11 wins from 12. Not to mention their imperious record at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, a ground on which they had won 18 games from 19, including each of their last seven.

With history against them and the prize of Old Trafford at stake, this purposeful Wolves side produced another display full of maturity and togetherness.

After an elaborate fanfare of fire and lights greeted the teams, a cagey opening followed with no quarter asked or given as the first half looked set to be decided by Dec Patton and Luke Walsh trading penalties.

Then, Patton showed exactly why Tony Smith has such a headache when Chris Sandow returns to fitness. His short ball for Kurt Gidley to crash over was absolutely textbook and a mark of his unwavering self-belief.

However, these games never pass without tests of your character and the final two minutes of the half ensured the following 40 minutes would examine Wolves’ resolve to its limits.

Once Jonny Lomax had finished a scything left-edge move to level the game, Saints were awarded a soft penalty and a chance to pinch the initiative right on the half-time hooter, which Luke Walsh duly took.

Step forward Stefan Ratchford, a man who excels in so many positions. The ever-reliable “Jack of all trades”, back at full-back after his stint in the halves last week, provided the spark to send Wolves to the Theatre of Dreams.

On his 150th appearance for the club, he had the wherewithal to spot a gap in the Saints defence and dive over from the ruck to give his side a lead they would not relinquish.

He wasn’t finished sprinkling his magic dust on the occasion, a sublime pass allowed Tom Lineham to continue his glorious return to the Wolves side by diving over in the corner.

There were hairy moments, of course, as Saints camped down inside the Wolves half and Dominique Peyroux had a try crucially ruled out by video referee Joe Cobb.

Tony Smith said it himself, that final period needed character and his players had it in spades to secure their third Grand Final appearance.

Two records broken in as many weeks, now for the ultimate…

INTERESTING NOTES:

. Wolves record their first home win over Saints since June 2011.

. Stefan Ratchford makes his 150th Wolves appearance.

. The Wire reach their third Super League Grand Final, first since 2013.

MATCH FACTS:

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Tom Lineham, Rhys Evans, Ryan Atkins, Matty Russell; Kurt Gidley, Dec Patton; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Sam Wilde, Jack Hughes, Joe Westerman. Subs: Toby King, George King, Joe Philbin, Morgan Smith.

Saints: Jonny Lomax; Jack Owens, Dominique Peyroux, Mark Percival, Adam Swift; Jordan Turner, Luke Walsh; Kyle Amor, James Roby, Greg Richards, Joe Greenwood, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Jon Wilkin. Subs: Alex Walmsley, Atelea Vea, Luke Thompson, Morgan Knowles.

Scoring: Patton penalty, 20mins, 2-0; Walsh penalty, 26mins, 2-2; Gidley try, 30mins, Patton goal, 8-2; Lomax try, 38mins, Walsh goal, 8-8; Walsh penalty, 40mins, 8-10; Ratchford try, 50mins, Patton goal, 14-10; Lineham try, 64mins, 18-10.

Penalties: Wolves 8 Saints 3.

Referee: Ben Thaler.

Attendance: 12,036.

Top man: Chris Hill.