Have your say: Simply the best

He helped mastermind yet another Grand Final success as the defending champions underlined their greatness on Saturday night.

Heroic Leeds defeated considerable favourites Warrington Wolves 26-18 at Old Trafford to secure an incredible fifth title in just six years.

They did so after finishing the regular season in lowly fifth, something which also occurred last season.

Earlier in the campaign, they seemed set to struggle to even reach the play-offs which generated plenty of criticism for McDermott and his players.

However, once more, they demonstrated their unerring ability to deliver when it matters most and, from the celebratory dressing room in Manchester, he said: “In the two years I’ve been at Leeds, nobody’s ever got in our bubble.

“Nobody effects it. Nobody reacts to what gets said outside of this so when we win I’m not one for putting two fingers up to those outside of it at all. That’s because we’re honest; it’s not the thing to do.

“At this moment, I’m sat here watching 17 semi-dressed blokes with the Super League trophy.

“They don’t want to move. They don’t want to leave. They just want to stay in this moment for forever. This will stay with me for the rest of my life.

“I’m astounded and humbled to work with a group of people who can do some special things.

“We always knew it could happen and we absolutely never lose belief. It’s not so much we’ve won the Grand Final; it’s the manner in which we’ve done it and the route we’ve taken.”

Out-maenouvred Warrington were in their maiden title-decider but, after beating Leeds in the Challenge Cup Final and finishing only a point behind League Leaders’ Shield winners Wigan, were deemed odds-on to complete the first double since St Helens in 2006.

However, eventually, they crumbled under the West Yorkshire side’s unrelenting pressure with Kevin Sinfield producing a incredible display to take the Harry Sunderland Trophy with 27 of the 33 votes.

The Rhinos captain, who has now lifted the Grand Final trophy six times and lost just once back in 2005, was knocked out after a clash of heads in the 42nd minute when the game was level at 14-14.

He recovered sufficiently, though, to utilise all of his experience, leadership and metronomic kicking to bring tireless Leeds home and set up another World Club Challenge affair with NRL champions Melbourne Storm early next year.

Sinfield’s toughness proved a telling factor given the heavy attention he received but McDermott added: “Toughness isn’t swinging your fists and it isn’t walking about with your T-shirt rolled up over your bicep.

“Toughness is about being able to take one or two shots and still perform at that level.

“That’s the ultimate; having the opposition come at you.

“People like Kev, Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow cop for it every single week off every single player that wants to knock off the World Club and the Super League champions.

“Anyone can take stick, go into their shell and go missing. But Kev doesn’t. He produces. He’s the ultimate of toughness and will go down in history as one of the best this competition’s ever seen.”

Sinfield, 32, reciprocated the sentiment as he paid tribute to a man who has had such a profound effect on this group of players. McDermott has come in for plenty of flak for Leeds’s inconsistent form during the regular rounds but his outstanding record of losing just two of 18 knockout games – they have fallen in successive Challenge Cup finals but defeated NRL champions Manly – since joining from Harlequins is second to none.

“I said last week Mac’s the best coach I’ve ever had and I echo that now,” said the England stand-off. “The realism about him, the way he handles everybody, the way he manages people... you can see tonight what the lads think about him.

“I’m pleased for all the squad but chuffed to bits for our head coach; we know he’s had some bullets shot at him again this year and he continues to lead from the front.

“Jimmy (Lowes) and Jason (Davidson) deserve credit too. We’re not the youngest bunch but they’ve got us in great shape for this last month.”

Sinfield, who flies with six of his colleagues to South Africa on England duty this Wednesday, added: “We had a bit of a plan (against Warrington).

“I think defence was always going to be so important for us.

“Our big guys showed so much energy getting off the line and just a desire to look after your mate and do the right thing.”

But, once more, Sinfield’s kicking quality came to the fore.

He enjoyed an 100 per cent record with the boot including an excellent conversion from the touchline to Ryan Hall’s late try which gave Leeds an important eight-point advantage.

As Rhinos prop Jamie Peacock, who made a record tenth Grand Final appearance, noted: “(Warrington’s) Brett Hodgson’s a great kicker but he missed the ones under pressure.

“Kev didn’t. He nailed them all and to do that is just special. He delivers better than anyone else in the game here.”