Joe Philbin's 'cream cake' try takes Warrington Wolves to Wembley

Gallantly holding on to a 16-14 lead as the clock counted down on an energy-sapping thriller, hometown prop forward Philbin still had the reserves of fuel to produce the deciding play and take The Wire to Wembley for the third time in four years.

It was a moment that sent the hoards of Warrington fans jumping around like bananas in the North Stand at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Joe Philbin's last-minute try and the celebrations. Pictures: Mike Boden

“I’m over the moon, the feeling in the dressing room was amazing,” said the 24-year-old former Culcheth Eagles and Latchford Albion junior.

“With the game being as tight as it was it made it an even better feeling.

“It was end to end, you didn’t know which way it was going to go, and that made it feel even sweeter.”

Before the try though, he paid tribute to the work done at the other end of the field as Hull attempted to produce a match-winning play of their own.

“In the 77th minute they made a break and we were pretty isolated for the kick that came over,” he said.

“It was Jake Connor versus Toby King. You know how good Jake Connor is in the air but Toby just won it and batted it out for a drop-out, and then they dropped it.

“That was a big moment.

“We got down their end, they dropped the ball and I saw it there loose. I just gave it a little flick into the in-goal and I just dived on it. I thought it was a cream cake and I was sprinting after it.

“I was over the moon because I don’t get too many tries but to get one on that stage I think I’m going to milk it a bit. It was scored at the end with the Hull fans but I still celebrated, I wasn’t bothered.

“We knew Stef was going to kick the goal and we had an eight-point buffer with eight seconds left so we kind of knew we’d won, but you have to stay switched on. There could be an eight-point try so we stayed alive.

“And it’s a good feeling now.”

> READ: What Steve Price said about the win plus Josh Charnley injury update

Fans have been showing him a lot of love on social media.

“I’m buzzing. I’ll be retweeting everything. I’ve told the lads I might be a bit of a torture on social media this week,” he laughed.

“I appreciate the love I get from the fans and they always turn up to the big occasions.

“It’s like an 18th man for us. I can’t really explain the difference it makes when they’re screaming.

“Some games when it’s a bit quiet and you get a bit fatigued you think ‘ugh’, but when you hear the fans roaring you feel 12-foot tall and that you can run through a brick wall.

“The fans were unbelievable and I do appreciate the love they give me.”