Danny McGuire's scoring return coincides with Leeds Rhinos' response

Named captain when Kevin Sinfield left the club after that final, McGuire was restricted by a series of injuries to only 13 appearances last year and – remarkably for the competition’s leading try scorer – failed to cross the whitewash.

In the fourth game of his comeback McGuire scored his first try since the treble-clinching Old Trafford triumph when Leeds crushed Catalans Dragons 46-10 last week.

That was an impressive response after a record 66-10 loss at Castleford Tigers eight days earlier and McGuire hopes happier times lie ahead, both personally and for the team.

“I feel good,” said the half-back, who is set to lead Rhinos into Friday’s home derby against Wakefield Trinity.

“Last week was probably the best I’ve played for a while.

“I just want to do my bit for the lads and the team and enjoy being part of the team and keep working hard and turn up ready to go this week.

“We want to play well every week. I have always tried to wear the shirt with pride and I want to play well every time I put the jersey on.

“Sometimes you have your bad days, but everyone’s committed to the cause, we will go again this week and we are preparing as well as we can for Wakey.”

McGuire’s touchdown against Catalans was a popular moment among Leeds’s fans, but he insisted: “It was the result and performance that was most important and doing my bit for the team and making sure everybody has a smile on their face and not moping around.”

He added: “It was nice to get a try, but across the board I thought everybody was good and it was really enjoyable out there.

“We’ve had one good performance after one bad one and we’ve got to build on that. We’re not going to put the cue on the rack and say we’re back where we want to be. We have to keep working hard and keep preparing well.”

Leeds will be without prop Brad Singleton until the Challenge Cup fifth round, late next month, after he was banned for six games by the Rugby Football League’s disciplinary panel. Singleton pleaded guilty to grade E striking with an elbow in last week’s win over Catalans Dragons.

Hull forward Jansin Turgut will miss Friday’s visit of Widnes Vikings and the following week’s trip to Wigan Warriors.

He was banned for two games after admitting grade C striking with the elbow/forearm in last week’s win over St Helens.

Turgut was sin-binned by referee Phil Bentham following the clash with Saints’ Alex Walmsley, who avoided a ban for striking with a knee.

Huddersfield Giants’ Sebastine Ikahihifo escaped a ban after submitting an early guilty plea to a grade A punching charge from the recent defeat at Leigh. Leigh’s Gareth Hock was fined £300, but not banned, for a similar offence.

Salford Red Devils will be without Lama Tasi for Sunday’s home game against Castleford Tigers. He admitted making a dangerous throw against Wakefield Trinity and was suspended for one game. Trinity’s Reece Lyne will be out for six to eight weeks due to knee damage suffered late in the the game three days ago.