Defeated Rhinos prove they can be Grand Final contenders once again

Sizeable favourites Wigan Warriors may have lifted the trophy at Wembley on Saturday but the manner of Leeds’s performance in a 28-18 loss – which was far closer than the scoreline suggests – has left their supremo feeling more positive reaction is to come.

Leaders Wigan now have a very real chance of becoming the first side to complete the traditionally tough league and cup double since the cup final switched from April/May to August in 2005.

However, Hetherington reckons the signs are there that Leeds, Super League champions three years running until Wigan took charge last season, can use the undoubted upset of a second successive Wembley defeat to inspire a surprise return to Old Trafford.

The West Yorkshire club may be sat in sixth following an indifferent campaign but, for the third time this season, they severely troubled Wigan and if they can re-produce that form heading into the play-offs they will pose any opponents major problems.

“Last year was a traumatic experience for us,” Hetherington told the Yorkshire Post, when the then-favourites were humbled 30-6 by Warrington in the 2010 final.

“We got well beaten on the day and this year we came as clear second favourites but I think everyone has seen that there’s clearly not much between the sides on the big day.

“Clearly, Wigan have had the much better season consistently but on the day, Leeds Rhinos have shown they can compete with the best team.

“We’ll be looking to use this as a springboard for the rest of the season and a big finish.”

Leeds, who have still yet to defeat Wigan in a major final, fell 16-0 down inside 27 minutes but staged a remarkable recovery.

They rallied to make it 16-14 courtesy of tries from Ben Jones-Bishop, Ryan Hall and Carl Ablett, and threatened to produce the biggest fightback in Challenge Cup final history.

However, Lance Todd Trophy winner Jeff Lima plunged over for his second try off a blatantly forward pass and, later, with Wigan narrowly ahead 22-18, another controversial call from the officials left dejected Leeds unable to retaliate further.

Brett Finch’s kick was helped into touch by Wigan team-mate Josh Charnley as he battled with Rob Burrow for possession but touch judge Robert Hicks incorrectly ruled the Leeds replacement had got the last touch.

From the resulting possession, Thomas Leuluai – who should really have ousted his fellow Kiwi for the prestigious man-of-the-match award – darted over from 10 metres to leave dejected Leeds frustrated once more and furious at referee Phil Bentham.

Hetherington explained: “The players pleaded with the referee to go to the screen to make sure he got the call right, which he can do, but he refused to do so.

“I think it’s such a crucial call – who gets possession with four minutes to go, trailing by so few points, 40 yards out... obviously it is.

“We looked capable of scoring a try right to the death.”

While some observers feared the final could be a laborious one-sided affair given Wigan’s clinical prowess and Leeds’s own patchy form, it was far from that.

“There was nothing to chose between the sides,” admitted Hetherington. “It was a really tough, evenly-fought encounter.

“Wigan obviously got off to a great start with some spectacular tries, one in particular, and some soft defence on our part.

“But to come back from 16-0 down against a rampant Wigan side was a terrific effort by the Rhinos.

“With four minutes to go the referee and touch judge made a wrong call when there was still chance to pull the game out of the fire.

“Indeed, when (Ben) Jones-Bishop goes down the side that was another clear-cut chance to actually win the game but we conceded a try off a forward pass – a crucial one as well.

“On another day, those decisions go for you. It was a terrifically-fought cup tie; very, very tough, very physical and both teams gave it their best.”

Leeds head coach Brian McDermott, whose side face their penultimate Super League regular fixture against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on Friday, did not look to hide behind excuses when assessing the reasons for defeat.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Wigan,” he said. “They played well today and deserved their win.

“I have no qualms with that but I have to say we conceded too many easy tries.

“We got ourselves back in the game and showed a huge amount of character. I’m pretty proud of the group. They showed a fair amount of resilience in that game.”

However, it will have been particularly difficult for captain Kevin Sinfield, 30, who has now played in four Challenge Cup finals – and lost them all.

Leeds’s 12-year quest to win the Challenge Cup goes on and McDermott admitted: “I should imagine he (Sinfield) is in a pretty dark place at the moment but, if he wants any advice from me, he should hold his chest out.

“He’s been a great leader this week. We gave it a crack. I don’t think there should be made a big thing of it.

“There are some fellas hurting in that dressing room because they’ve been in a few of these games and lost but they need to be proud of themselves. They got to another final. Only one team can win it.”

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