Castleford 10 Leeds 23: Joy and relief as Rhinos lift the Cup at long last

An elated Kevin Sinfield jumping high into the air and staring up into the blue skies over Wembley after Danny McGuire’s drop goal had finally confirmed Leeds Rhinos would win that elusive Tetley’s Challenge Cup.

There was still three minutes remaining and it is unusual for their highly-professional and dedicated captain to celebrate in such a manner while any game is still ongoing.

But McGuire’s nerveless kick had stretched the score out to 23-10 and with it came the brilliant realisation that there was simply no way Castleford Tigers, for all their spirit, could dig themselves out of this hole.

Leeds’ Golden Generation, who, since last prospering in this competition in 1999 had won half-a-dozen Super League Grand Finals but lost all six Challenge Cup finals in which they had featured, had, at last, secured their Holy Grail.

No more questions about their final jinx.

No more questions for Sinfield about whether his career will be incomplete without that trophy. No more questions about what it is like to leave Wembley a loser once more.

It was hard to see what was more palpable – the sense of relief amongst jubilant Leeds players or the complete and utter joy etched across their faces.

A combination of both plus a fair dose of adrenaline can only explain how McGuire managed his own sprint and leap as he wheeled away in delight; the half-back, who has played alongside Sinfield in four such occasions, had been prone on the famous turf in agony just a few minutes earlier, his ribs busted after an accidental collision with team-mate Paul Aiton.

As ecstatic Leeds players later began their celebrations in the bowels of the stadium - can there ever have been a more satisfying victory for one group of players? –he was heading to hospital safe in the knowledge his wonderful display of half-back play had been so integral to their success.

McGuire, alongside Sinfield and Rob Burrow in an organising triumvirate now as familiar as the club’s blue and amber colours, pulled Castleford apart bit by bit whether through precise kicks, cutting passes or yet another try.

Ryan Hall, of course, was immense too, loitering out on the left flank and using his hulking presence to score two tries that few other wingers in the world would have contemplated attempting – let alone managing.

He deservedly won the Lance Todd Trophy with 14 votes but it is a sign of how telling McGuire – now 31 and bringing a more rounded approach – had been that he was only a couple of votes adrift.

Castleford fans, more out of annoyance that their own side fluffed their lines on the big stage, labelled Leeds “boring” in some of their chants as they continually kicked into touch.

That was a harsh description; they merely carried out Brian McDermott’s gameplan to perfection and, by finding the touchlines, prevented the dangerous Justin Carney and Luke Dorn from running back hardly any ball.

That, in turn, meant Castleford started few of their sets on the front foot and, with the likes of Jamie Peacock, Kylie Leuluai and Jamie Jones-Buchanan so suffocating in the middle, the underdogs ran out of ideas.

It was their first such final in 22 years but, unfortunately, they could not replicate much of the flair and enterprise that has lit up Super League this term.

Castleford coach Daryl Powell, who won as a player with Leeds in 1999, was left impressed with the pragmatic but efficient display of his former club but disappointed that his own side failed to thrive as much as he had hoped.

Marc Sneyd, whose displays at stand-off have been impressive this year, struggled to have any impact and they simply never got going. Those who have been there before always say how the Wembley experience is gone too quickly and it proved the case for Castleford.

Before they knew it they were 16-4 down and that deficit always looked irretrievable. Tom Briscoe’s fifth minute try, Sinfield slotting the first of three conversions, had given Leeds early encouragement and, though their West Yorkshire rivals responded with a score through Daryl Clark, it was only a brief positive moment.

That Sneyd missed the simple conversion said more about Castleford’s play and, with Clark unusually scrappy at hooker and prop Andy Lynch finding himself kicking at one point, Leeds were invited in. McGuire stole in to nick Burrow’s lofted chip from in front of Dorn for their second try and then Zak Hardaker busted the meet attempted tackle of Sneyd to speed down centrefield to set up position for Hall’s first.

Castleford’s Kirk Dixon made contact with him 10m from his own line but was left hanging on and powerless as the England wing bullied his way over.

Michael Shenton escaped Leeds’ shackles long enough to set up Oli Holmes early in the second half, Liam Finn converting to make it 16-10, but there was not enough composure afterwards from his colleagues.

Instead, Hall bulldozed his way over for a second and, though Sinfield missed the conversion, McGuire – dropped for the 2003 final when Powell was in charge at Leeds – made sure.

Castleford Tigers: Dorn; Dixon, Webster, Shenton, Carney; Sneyd, Finn; Lynch, Clark, Huby, Holmes, Hauraki, Massey. Replacements: Mariano, Wheeldon, Ellis, Jewitt.

Leeds Rhinos: Hardaker; Briscoe, Watkins, Moon, Hall; Sinfield, McGuire; Leuluai, Burrow, Peacock, Delaney, Ablett, Jones-Buchanan. Replacements: Aiton, Bailey, Kirke, Sutcliffe.

Referee: Phil Bentham (RFL).