‘Cup final victory was better than Old Traffford success’

The England international followed in the footsteps of brother-in-law Andy Farrell in leading the Warriors to Cup final glory but admitted their first success at Wembley for 16 years made the victory extra special.

“Last year was special because it was the first trophy we’d won for a long time but the fact that Wigan have had a proud history of winning the Challenge Cup does make it a lot more special,” he said. “You’re treading in the footsteps of a lot of great players and great teams that have gone before you.

“As special as the Grand Final is, the history the club has with the Challenge Cup probably made it that little bit more.”

Former New Zealand international Jeff Lima was Wigan’s unlikely hero with a brace of tries as they held off a stunning fightback by Leeds.

Lima had scored just once in his first 26 matches for the Warriors but he doubled his tally on 24 minutes and, after the Rhinos had threatened to pull off the biggest comeback in Challenge Cup final history, he struck again just past the hour mark to keep his side on top.

It was enough to make Lima the first prop forward to win the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match since 1980.

“I can’t express how I feel,” he said. “It’s overwhelming, it will probably hit me later.

“I just go out and do my job. I’ve been off the radar for a while happy to be in the right place at the right time.”

Wigan coach Michael Maguire, who will leave the club at the end of the season having won both of the game’s major trophies during his two-year stay, paid tribute to Lima and revealed that Josh Charnley and Lee Mossop both defied injury to stay on the pitch.

“Jeff’s been improving week in, week out,” said Maguire. “I knew what Jeff could do before he got here. He’s really playing some great rugby league for us and he’s a big part of the character of this group. He was outstanding today, along with all the players.

“We had some inspirational people staying on the park. Josh Charnley had a bone protruding out of his finger from his first touch of the ball but stayed on the park.

“Lee Mossop dislocated his shoulder but the medical staff did a great job and got him back out there.

“It was the same across the whole team. Lockers (O’Loughlin) had a sore hammy but he put his hand up and got back out there again. That’s what was needed.

“This group keeps stepping up for each other.”