Sinfield salutes ‘Dad’s Army’

IT’S OURS: Leeds Rhinos duo Danny Buderus (left) and Kevin Sinfield celebrate winning the Engage Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.

OLDHAM’s Kevin Sinfield was proud as punch as Leeds Rhinos saw off a robust second-half challenge from St Helens to claim glory for a record fifth time in the Engage Super League Grand Final.

The captain, reared on rugby league at Waterhead, kicked as well as he ever will under pressure to aid the cause of Brian McDermott’s side, who overcame the odds to win 32-16 at Old Trafford.

Sinfield’s six goals in an ice-cool performance with the boot helped the Rhinos claim a fourth Grand Final victory over St Helens in five years — at the end of a regular season in which the team only finished fifth.

“To all those people that wrote this team off, to all the people that criticised this team, tonight’s for you,” Sinfield announced to the crowd at the end of a pulsating showpiece final which ranks as one of the finest since its inception in 1998.

Rob Burrow was at the heart of the Rhinos triumph. The diminutive half-back — who picked up the Harry Sunderland Trophy as man of the match for the second time, gaining a unanimous 37 votes — produced a moment of real magic in the first half amid continuous rainfall.

Taking the ball up just inside the Saints half with the game tied at 2-2, Burrow ducked under a pair of tackles, scampered at full-back Paul Wellens and then issued a perfect side-step before sprinting clear of the covering defence.

Sinfield’s task was a simple one in converting, to leave the Rhinos in pole position at half-time.

Saints, though, are made of sterner stuff than to simply surrender and their resurgent effort in the second half threatened to completely change the game around.

A period of heavy pressure led to Tom Makinson stretching a hand to touch down a ball which Leeds full-back Brent Webb was trying to shepherd behind, and Michael Shenton’s try as St Helens switched play quickly from left to right was added to by three Jamie Foster goals.

Wellens had retired from the action with Achilles trouble, though, and when Shenton suffered a dislocated elbow to lead to a further reorganisation of the Saints’ back-line, Leeds hit back strongly.

Webb stretched over for a try Sinfield improved and a penalty from the captain levelled the scores at 16-16 towards the final 10 minutes.

Another moment of brilliance from substitute Burrow, throwing a neat dummy before setting Ryan Hall in down the left, was followed up by efforts from Carl Ablett — down the side of the Saints defence missing Shenton — and Zak Hardaker to give the scoreline a slightly lop-sided feel.

“I am proud to captain this club and I am so proud to lead these guys to another Grand Final,” said Sinfield.

“We talked about people having a crack at us and the adversity we have encountered this year. We have copped for some good hidings against some very good teams.

“I have never been involved in a season like this. The team has so much quality but for some reason, we weren’t transferring what we were doing in training out onto the field.

“We were an easy target, ‘Dad’s Army’ as people called us. But with that there is a lot of experience.

“We knew if we put our combinations together and got some serious form going, we could mount a serious challenge.

“I think everyone who has pointed the finger at this group has provided us with that little bit extra to be able to say he who laughs last, laughs loudest.”