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Bradford booked their place in Super League's Grand Final after a
ferocious encounter against Wigan at Valley Parade on Sunday.
In a furiously-paced match, all of Bradford's points were scored by the
brothers Paul.
Robbie scored two tries and Henry kicked eight goals to leave Wigan
frustrated at the end of a superb encounter.
Wigan started the game poorly as the Bulls quickly racked up a 10-0
lead.
But an intercepted pass allowed Steve Renouf to throw Wigan a lifeline
and when Kris Radlinski dived over, the Warriors were back in the match.
A third from David Hodgson after the break should have been enough for
the visitors to draw level.
But poor discipline allowed Henry Paul to show his class with the boot
and propel the Bulls into the Old Trafford final.
Henry Paul put his side ahead after only four minutes with a penalty,
and went on to kick four from five attempts by half-time - but it was his
younger brother who dominated the half.
The lightning-quick scrum-half made the visitors pay for a handling
error from Wigan prop Harvey Howard by diving over for his first try on 11
minutes.
Henry extended the lead to 10-0 and his only miss at goal was with an
ambitious attempt from half-way.
Bradford were then unlucky to have a try disallowed when Michael
Withers beat Kris Radlinski to James Lowes' grubber kick.
The video referee ruled that Withers did not have control of the ball.
Wigan were penned inside their own half for most of the period, but
pulled a try back on 25 minutes when Robbie Paul misjudged a pass and
Steve Renouf intercepted and touched down.
Paul made amends six minutes later when a powerful burst from centre
Scott Naylor took the Bulls back to where they spent most of the half and
the skipper nipped in for his second try.
At that stage, Wigan would probably have settled for a 16-6 deficit
going into the break.
But they claimed a much-needed bonus when Radlinski made amends for a
number of uncharacteristic lapses by charging in for his 30th try of the
season.
That cut the gap to just six and it would have been less had Farrell
not missed with two awkward shots at goal.
As the weather deteriorated, so did both teams' handling and Wigan did
not help their cause by losing their composure.
Paul made the Warriors pay for lapses in discipline with three further
penalty goals to stretch the Bulls' lead to 22-10 by the 53rd minute.
Farrell pulled two points back with a penalty of his own and hooker
Terry Newton twice went close to claiming tries as Wigan tried to get back
into contention.
He clearly grounded the ball short of the line on one occasion and then
failed to ground it properly after bundling Withers aside from dummy half.
Farrell then broke clear to send substitute winger Hodgson sliding over
at the corner.
His touchline conversion brought Wigan tantalisingly close, but
Bradford held on for the win.
Wigan must now beat reigning champions St Helens in next Saturday's
final eliminator at the JJB Stadium to set up a rematch at Old Trafford.
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