He pointed out there was still room for improvement in the Magpies team performance.
"We're not quite at our peak and fortunately we've got a week to sort things out before the final."
Magpies captain and No 8 Brendon O'Connor was stoked with the effort from his troops.
"We dug deep on defence and in the second half strung a few phases together. It's important we enjoy this moment and then back ourselves in the final," O'Connor said.
Northland enjoyed the early territorial advantage. But the Magpies defence was strong and during one passage of play in the first three minutes held the Taniwha out for 13 phases.
However the visitors opened the scoring with a penalty to first five-eighth Dan Hawkins in the sixth minute. A minute later the Magpies equalised with a penalty to West when Northland were penalised by Bay of Plenty referee Shane McDermott for not rolling away. West put the hosts ahead 6-3 with a 14th minute penalty from 41 metres out. This saw West reach the 100 points mark in ITM Cup play this season.
Northland continued to dominate possession and territory and winger Jone Macilai, who was dangerous on attack, scored in the 26th minute to give the Taniwha the lead for the second time. Taranaki television match official Rob Lord got this call spot on.
Magpies fullback Richard Buckman put the hosts back in front with a 31st minute try after beating five defenders on the way to the line. There was some slick passing in the buildup to the try and West landed the conversion from wide out to give the hosts a 13-8 halftime lead.
Northland were unlucky to lose the ball over the tryline during the final minutes of the first half. The Magpies were more unlucky to lose Buckman with a knee injury before the halftime whistle.
The Magpies had 42 per cent of the territory and 37 per cent of possession during the first half. Their 11 handling errors were a key factor in the tight half.
Busy Magpies centre Robbie Fruean scored the first try in the second half with a cut on the angle off West in the 45th minute. West succeeded with the conversion and the Magpies led 20-8.
Hawkins closed the gap with a 51st minute penalty. Four minutes later West had the hosts ahead 23-11 after another handy penalty.
Some suspect Magpies defence, yet again, allowed Northland captain and No 8 Dan Pryor to score the try of the match in the 56th minute to keep the Taniwha in the hunt.
West maintained his 100 per cent success rate at goal with his cracker 56-metre effort in the 64th minute to extend the Magpies lead to 26-16. Northland prop Namatahi Waa increased the excitement during the final minutes with his 76th minute try.
The victory was an appropriate result for the Magpies substitute fullback Matt Berquist in his 50th first class game for the Magpies, substitute prop Adrian Barone who earned his blazer for 1000 minutes and the Magpies second five-eighth and former Taniwha player Jason Shoemark in his 100th ITM Cup game.
The Magpies set piece play was superb but there were still too many missed tackles and handling errors.
Shoemark had a huge defensive workrate and his midfield partner Fruean again shone with his ability to bust the Taniwha's defensive line.
The Manawatu Turbos host the Southland Stags today in the other Championship semifinal. Should the Stags win the final will be played at McLean Park.
