Brian McDermott has heaped praise on the departing Leeds Rhinos players after their Super League Grand Final victory over Wigan Warriors yesterday.
Advertisement
This weekend’s Manchester showpiece not only brings down the curtain on a number of decorated careers, but on a long season for a Rhinos side who are chasing the treble having already claimed the Challenge Cup and League Leaders’ Shield.
Leeds Rhinos halfback Rob Burrow is expecting a very “physical” meeting with Wigan Warriors in Saturday’s Grand Final.
Jamie Peacock, Kevin Sinfield and Kylie Leuluai ended their rugby league playing careers with the 22-20 win over Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford, which completed Leeds’ domestic treble.
Sinfield then had a straightforward conversion to put the Leeds back in front and the veteran from Oldham, who is leaving for rugby union this autumn, made no mistake to add yet another honour to his glittering rugby league CV.
“One man who I’m tipping to make the difference for the Warriors is Ben Flower”.
These two clubs both deserve their place in the Grand Final after a few incredible tries, tremendous defence and astute tactics throughout the campaign.
“The only thing what I am in control of and what the players are in control of is how we train and how we play and how we approach this game on Saturday”.
The Wales worldwide will always be remembered as the first player to be sent off in a Grand Final but the big prop has clearly learned his lesson. We just needed to be a bit smarter.
“We took that into the St Helens game last week and the side is pretty buoyant at the moment”.
“I just wanted to get back here; we won the Challenge Cup and then, after beating Huddersfield, you think we’re on the verge of something special”.
Leeds pursued their first-ever victory over Wigan in a major final with a three-quarter division many rate as the best they have ever put on to the field, but with their most creative forward, Adam Cuthbertson, on the bench.
Joe Burgess opened the scoring but Leeds led 16-6 at the break, with McGuire’s brace sandwiching a controversial effort from Joel Moon.
“We’re coming up against tough opposition in Wigan who are well drilled and well coached”.
After George Williams kept the ball alive on the last tackle, Sean O’Loughlin’s lofted kick allowed Dominic Manfredi to pick Ryan Hall’s pocket in the air to close the gap to four.
A Bowen penalty stretched the gap to four points.
Back came the Rhinos nearly immediately, with man of the match Danny McGuire timing his run perfectly on to the sort of little kick with which Sinfield has been providing him for the best part of a decade and a half.
“Wigan and Leeds have a big history of playing against each other”.
Sinfield said: “It’s never been done in my time, so it would be really special”.
Advertisement
“We are going down absolutely hell-bent on trying to get this trophy but I have every respect for what they do at Leeds”.
