Castleford Tigers 6 Leeds Rhinos 24, October 7, 2017
You cannot write the scripts of Leeds Rhinos.
A team who finished in the bottom four of Super League and fought relegation during 2016 were crowned champions 12 months later.
Moreover, they did it in style as legendary Leeds duo Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow enjoyed a fairytale send-off while Castleford’s dream campaign descended into a waking nightmare.
All the talk during the season had been about Daryl Powell’s Tigers as they ran away with the League Leaders’ Shield on the way to their first-ever Grand Final.
Yet the Rhinos – and Harry Sunderland Trophy winner McGuire in particular – showed all their big-game experience to rack up a record-extending eighth Super League title.
Master craftsman McGuire grabbed a brace of tries ahead of an end-of-season switch to Hull KR while close pal Burrow has since retired to join Leeds’ backroom staff.
McGuire said: “That was an unbelievable effort and the lads deserve the credit. I’ve had a great 20 years at the club and the club is like a family to me.”
Burrow said: “I’ve loved every minute of my career and tonight was a fairytale ending.”
Winger Tom Briscoe also scored twice – his second the 150th of his career – to complete a personal renaissance after his horror show in the Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to Hull in July.
There were honourable mentions for 18-year-old full-back Jack Walker and Stevie Ward, who played just eight days after suffering a dislocated shoulder.
But it was very much the McGuire show, with the veteran Rhinos captain cleverly orchestrating affairs throughout.
There is something in Leeds’ DNA that makes them perform at Old Trafford and they did it again.
Shortly after Leeds were battered 66-10 at Castleford in March, head coach Brian McDermott dared to claim his men could go on and win the Grand Final.
This was the ultimate vindication.
McDermott said: “The whole club has been through every emotion in the last 18 months.
“When everyone was calling for me to be sacked the owners were brilliant, but never in my wildest dreams did I think we would get to Old Trafford, never mind win the Grand Final. It’s the best win ever.”
Castleford, missing axed full-back Zak Hardaker following a “breach of club rules”, made far too many handling errors and Briscoe’s first try came in the 11th minute from a McGuire kick.
Greg Eden, deputising for Hardaker at full-back, was kept out by McGuire’s saving tackle before Briscoe had an effort chalked off for shoving Paul McShane.
A drop-goal from McGuire made it 7-0 at the break and McGuire scored in the 52nd minute after Eden spilled Joel Moon’s kick.
On the hour, Briscoe had his second in the right corner after neat play from McGuire and Moon.
Then in the 70th minute Burrow kicked through for McGuire to score his second.
Alex Foster touched down late on for Castleford, but it was hardly consolation.
Powell admitted: “We saved our very worst to last. We came up well short. Leeds deserved to win and we got our backsides spanked.”
And that was the truth.
