Made in Oldham!

BATTERED BUT BEAMING: Kevin Sinfield after Leeds’ against-all-odds Grand Final victory over Warrington. Picture: Yorkshire Post

“THE last few days have been a bit of a blur, in all honesty,” admitted Kevin Sinfield, as grounded as ever.

This was despite attracting praise from all quarters of the sporting world for orchestrating for Leeds Rhinos another improbable Super League title.

“From where we started to where we have ended up, it has been a great journey,” added the Oldhamer. “And I still can’t quite believe it.”

The 32 year old, who learned the rugby league ropes on Waterhead Park, provided a perfect example on Saturday night. His clash of heads with Warrington winger Joel Monaghan early in the second half at Old Trafford would have significantly unsteadied a real-life rhino.

But Leeds’ talisman got treatment, waved away a stretcher and got to his feet to slot home one of his five penalties on another amazing evening. Lesser mortals would have been on a drip in hospital for a week.

Praise on Twitter for Sinfield’s unerringly calm, focused and clinical display amid such brutality was forthcoming from Wayne Rooney — a Rhinos fan who visited the team’s Midland hotel in Manchester prior to the game to chat with the players.

Sinfield, who now has six winners’ rings, leads by way of steely intensity. It displeased him as much as it did head coach Brian McDermott to finish the season only fifth in Super League.

The absence of a weight of expectation, the captain says, freed the Rhinos to produce their best rugby under the toughest of circumstances.

“We had a very difficult route to the Grand Final. But at the same time, there has been no pressure on us at all. We have gone into every game giving it absolutely everything we have got, leaving nothing out there on the field.”

“The whole coaching team, how they operate and the chemistry between them is as good as I have witnessed. The balance is brilliant.”