Shaun Briscoe celebrates with his team-mates after the final whistle

Hull will face St Helens after beating Bradford 19-12 on Friday night.

"I'm a bit lost for words to be honest," he said. "It was a magnificent defensive effort which set the platform for the win.

"Everybody contributed but there were some great individual performances, which there needed to be against a quality side like Bradford."

Scrum-half Richard Horne scored Hull's first try after just 46 seconds and set up the second for winger Motu Tony with a pinpoint kick, but Sharp revealed the scrum-half had almost missed the game.

"Richard looked like pulling out after the warm-up because he tweaked his Achilles," said Sharp.

If I'm honest it hurts like hell but I'm proud to be associated with that bunch of players Bulls boss Steve McNamara

"There was a bit of drama. That's why we were late out of the sheds.

"He got through OK but there were severe doubts over whether he would start the game."

Sharp also revealed that Horne's half-back partner Paul Cooke was overcome with emotion after the match, which came just 48 hours after a court appearance in which he pleaded guilty to assault.

"He's a bit distressed in the sheds," said Sharp.

"It's been a massive week for him and he's looking forward to settling down next week for the final."

Bradford's defeat ended their bid for a sixth successive Grand Final but coach Steve McNamara said he was proud of his players, who had to overcome a catalogue of injuries in the run-up to the game.

"It's been a really tough week for us but the players responded magnificently," said McNamara. "I can't speak highly enough of them.

"If I'm honest, it hurts like hell but I'm proud to be associated with that bunch of players.

"We pushed hard but didn't quite get there. We missed some opportunities and when you do that it tends to come back and bite you.