Leeds Rhinos v St Helens: Former hero Tait confident Rhinos can book final spot

Instead, they were cast before the legendary loose forward latched onto a rare breakout against St Helens to score his second and, ultimately, match-clinching try at his former home of Central Park.

Relieved Leeds, who had been under immense pressure for much of the fiercely contested clash at Wigan, finally breathed easy, securing a 20-8 success which ended their 16-year long wait for a return to Wembley.

But – just as many years on again from that memorable afternoon – the individual who did win most votes begs to differ and Great Britain full-back Alan Tait has no trouble recollecting.

"It was me who set Ellery up for that second try of his anyway," he told the Yorkshire Post, smiling at the lunacy that one of the greatest players ever to grace the game might have edged him out.

"I put him in so none of that really matters now.

"Yes, I was man of that match all right, no question and it was a great day."

Tait, indeed, had been instrumental as Leeds, for so long the big-spending under-achievers, at last secured passage to the Twin Towers for the first time since their famous 1978 triumph.

With such luminaries as Hanley, Garry Schofield, destructive Kiwi centre Kevin 'The Beast' Iro and former All Black Craig Innes, they had the personnel to fire but were down in ninth place in the Championship.

However, there was a sense of destiny calling when Dougie Laughton's men arrived to face the favourites.

"We'd lost to Widnes on the same pitch in the semis the year before," recollected Tait, who had won the title with the Chemics in 1988-89 after mentor Laughton had brought him to league from Kelso RU.

"And, the two years previously, I'd been there in Widnes sides as well, but was twice beaten by Saints.

"I'd been in three semis on the trot and never gone to Wembley so I was really fired up.

"I knew I had to pull out a big game on the big occasion – we all did – and we went out there and did it."

Then aged 29, and in some of the form of his career, the strong-running full-back remembers the point where Hanley's crucial try settled proceedings.

"Somebody threw a long pass out and I managed to pick it up off my toes," said the player, who later featured on the victorious British Lions 1997 tour of South Africa after his return to the 15-man game.

"I couldn't believe it. I thought I was going to fall over but just managed to keep my feet.

"I don't know if that put the Saints defenders off but I did a little shimmy, made a half break and there was Ellery, as always, on the shoulder.

"I slipped it to him and he was off under the sticks.

"The celebrations were great. It had been a long time since Leeds had been to Wembley and I loved the club, the lads there and the supporters.

"They really got behind you and we'd finally given them something to cheer about.

"I remember travelling back to celebrate with the fans and, in those days, nobody could afford a mobile phone – apart from Ellery.

"I wanted to phone my parents in Scotland – my dad was always a big fan – to tell them we'd got to Wembley and I used his phone. It was a great, big thing and, by the end of the coach trip back, Ellery's phone had got a hammering off everyone."

That was the last time Leeds - who again face the same opponents in the last four at Huddersfield today - defeated Saints in a semi-final to reach Wembley.

They have won just one of the four semis staged between the great rivals since but that sole 2003 success saw the West Yorkshire club go on to feature at Cardiff while the famous stadium was being re-built.

Tait continued: "I was delighted for Dougie.

"He was the first person I ran to after the final whistle.

"I knew he loved Wembley as a player and as a coach. He'd won the cup before and all he talked about was Wembley.

"He always said he wanted to take Leeds there.

"He'd brought me to the club from Widnes and when we'd got knocked out in the semis the year before by them it hurt as we'd both been involved in those great Widnes sides so I was chuffed when we got to Wembley with Leeds."

The Loiners failed to overcome the untouchable Wigan side in the final as they rattled off a record-extending seventh successive Challenge Cup victory, Tait's former Widnes team-mate Martin Offiah ghosting around him for one breathtaking try.

The Cherry and Whites, with Jason Robinson this time unplayable, would make it eight the following year again at Leeds's expense.

But that does not tarnish the memories for Tait, who is currently preparing for his first season as Newcastle Falcons head coach and has recently spent time in the company of former Rhinos coach Tony Smith and Wigan chief Michael Maguire in a bid to glean ideas.

"I always say the highlight of my career was walking out at Wembley," he said.

"It was my dream as a kid to play in a Challenge Cup final.

"Obviously, it would have been great to go on and win it but we came up against that great Wigan team. Still, the feeling you get walking onto that pitch is just amazing.

"I think this Leeds team will get there too – there are a lot of youngsters in that Saints side and the occasion might get to them but Leeds – with SInfield, Peacock, Senior and the rest – have been in these situations before."

Previous rl challenge cup meetings between the two

1910-11: (2nd round) St. Helens 6 Leeds 11

1929-30: (2nd) Leeds 5 St. Helens 18

1970-71: (2nd) Leeds 4 St. Helens 0

1971-72: (Final, Wembley) St. Helens 16 Leeds 13

1976-77: (Semi-final, Wigan) Leeds 7 St. Helens 2

1977-78: (Final, Wembley) Leeds 14 St. Helens 12

1982-83: (2nd) Leeds 13 St. Helens 23

1991-92: (2nd) Leeds 12 St. Helens 32

1993-94: (SF, Wigan) Leeds 20 St. Helens 8

1999: (5th) Leeds 24 St. Helens 16

2000: (5th) Leeds 26 St. Helens 20

2001: (SF, Wigan) St. Helens 27 Leeds 22

2002: (SF, Wigan) St. Helens 42 Leeds 16

2003: (SF, Huddersfield) Leeds 33* St. Helens 26*

2004: (5th) St. Helens 24 Leeds 14

2008: (SF, Huddersfield) St. Helens 26 Leeds 16

2009: (4th) Leeds 18 St Helens 22

* After extra time