Rhinos’ legends are bowing out on the perfect stage, says McDermott

Success-laden captain Kevin Sinfield switches codes to Yorkshire Carnegie after Saturday’s Old Trafford showpiece against Wigan Warriors while highly-decorated props Jamie Peacock and Kylie Leuluai are hanging up their boots for good.

As the West Yorkshire club strive to secure their first-ever treble of Super League, Challenge Cup and League Leaders’ Shield – only St Helens (2006) and Bradford Bulls (2003) have achieved that in the summer era – McDermott concedes it would be the ideal send-off.

“This is our last game of the season and we have a chance of doing something special for the club and for them,” he said, having himself last night won Super League’s Coach of the Year, with Leeds full-back Zak Hardaker taking the prestigious Steve Prescott Man of Steel and Rhinos being named Club of the Year, too.

“It would be a really good story for them to go out on a high and for them to get their just rewards.

“It’s perfect that their final game is the Grand Final.

“The word that describes all three is selfless; they all put the team and club first.

“We do not have a divine right to win the Grand Final but it is right that all three bow out on this stage.”

Wigan coach Shaun Wane, the former Leeds prop, is desperate for his side to spoil that send-off but he, too, could not avoid heaping praise on the trio.

“They are outstanding talents,” he said. “There are a few people in our game who are special. People like Kevin, JP, Lockers (Sean O’Loughlin), Paul Sculthorpe and Adrian Morley are a step above.

“It’s a shame that Kev is going to union but part of me will be glad to see the back of him.

“They are the team to beat at the moment and have earned the chance to get the treble but we are focussed on stopping them.”

Sinfield, who has lifted the Grand Final trophy six times during his 19 years at Leeds, is relishing one last hurrah.

“The last few (games) have been exciting,” said the 35-year-old.

“The one at Huddersfield, the play-off (v St Helens) at Headingley and to play at Old Trafford again, they are all special.

“We’re very respectful of Wigan.

“They’re a great team so it’s a huge challenge for us.

“But it’s one and two in the league and I think it’s the final everyone wanted to see.

“Let’s hope both teams turn up and play like they can and put on a great show for everybody.”

Leeds certainly received a pre-match boost last night with that triple success during the awards ceremony at Lancashire CCC.

England full-back Hardaker has been a revelation this term in both attack and defence.

He beat off competition from Headingley colleague Adam Cuthbertson and St Helens prop Alex Walmsley to take the prestigious award, the first Leeds player to do so since Iestyn Harris in 1998.

That, of course, was also the year the club met Wigan in the inaugural Super League Grand Final, losing out 10-4 and the season after a 16-year-old Sinfield made his debut.

However, Leeds have still yet to defeat Wigan in a major final having lost all six showpieces so far – three Challenge Cups (1994, ’95 and 2011), that Grand Final, a Premiership affair (1995) and the John Player Trophy (1983).

McDermott, meanwhile, refuted rumours that Paul Aiton, their influential Papuan hooker ruled out for four months in mid-August due to surgery on a broken arm and dislocated wrist, would make a surprise return this weekend. They are expected to name the same side that defeated St Helens in Friday’s semi-final although Brett Delaney (knee) is still doubtful.

The Leeds coach kept his cards close to his chest, also, when asked whether Sam Burgess could be in line for a shock move to Headingley.

Bookmakers Sky Bet yesterday closed the book on the England rugby union star making a return to Super League with Rhinos.

They had seen some significant interest in the market about the former Bradford Bulls player leaving Bath for Headingley.

Burgess, 27, has polarised opinion in union circles since being parachuted into Stuart Lancaster’s ill-fated World Cup campaign less than 12 months after switching codes from South Sydney.

There had been strong speculation he would return to Australia with Souths after the World Cup which ended for the hosts in embarrassing style as they were dumped out in the pool stages following Saturday’s loss to the Wallabies.

However, there has been a surge of bets on the Dewsbury-born superstar returning to Yorkshire with treble-chasing Leeds.

Sky Bet spokesman Jordan Fiddes said: “We received a number of requests on our Twitter account for Sam Burgess to sign for Leeds Rhinos shortly before and after England lost to Australia.

“We’ve since taken the market down in case some people know something we don’t!”

But McDermott said: “Sam Burgess coming to Leeds?

“Is he on the same bus as Gareth Widdop coming to Leeds?

“What we never ever do is deny any rumour and never ever confirm any rumour either.”