Leeds Rhinos 17 Salford Red Devils 16: Luke Gale seals Challenge Cup final for Rhinos

With the game against Salford Red Devils finely balanced at 16-16, the England scrum-half had already seen one such effort drift marginally wide of a post.

However, the Rhinos captain did not miss second time around and, although there were no fans in Wembley Stadium, you can only imagine the reaction from their supporters back in Leeds.

Burrow, who won so many finals with the club and is currently battling motor neurone disease, would have been proud of such a strike himself.

Salford, beaten in last year’s Grand Final and playing their first Challenge Cup final since 1969, battled hard throughout and took the lead just before the hour mark when James Greenwood capitalised on a rare mistake from Lance Todd Trophy winner Richie Myler.

However, Ash Handley’s second try shortly after levelled the contest at 16-16.

That said, Kallum Watkins, playing for the first time against his former club, escaped downfield to give Salford a chance but the centre’s pass for Rhys Williams was marginally behind his winger who spilled.

Even after Gale’s one-pointer - which came after Pauli Pauli was controversially penalised for an incorrect play-the-ball - Salford had another opportunity to claim a first Cup win since 1938.

However, they opted to shift wide rather than go for a drop goal and Konrad Hurrell’s tackle rattled Krisnan Inu into a mistake.

Head coach Richard Agar, who took over with the club in chaos last May, won his first Challenge Cup in charge of a side and it was a fine team effort from the West Yorkshire club who sprang a surprise by naming youngster Alex Sutcliffe on the bench and lost Adam Cuthbertson to injury early in the second period.

After a couple of early errors - Tyrone McCarthy spilling for Salford and Ash Handley’s dummy-half pass far too high for Luke Gale to grasp - the first half settled into a high quality affair.

Gale and Kevin Brown both kicked well for their respective sides and neither were worried about playing conservativey.

Salford created the first chance as smooth passing to the left saw Krisnan Inu escape down the left.

The big winger chose the most difficult option - chipping infield - and Niall Evalds could not quite get hold of it.

Leeds, instead, opened the scoring with a wonderful flick pass from Konrad Hurrell seeing Tom Briscoe tip-toe in in the 12th minute.

Rhyse Martin added the first of his two goals.

If that was good, Rhys Williams effort for Salford seven minutes later was outstanding.

Watkins, playing for the first time against his former club, rose high to defuse Gale’s high kick and immediately found Niall Evalds.

In turn, the full-back instantly found Williams, the Wales winger who suddenly had a clear 80m run to the line for Inu to improve.

Full-back Evalds, playing his first game in weeks after Dan Sarginson contracted Covid, then broke clear himself off Brown’s clever inside pass but he tried to chip over opposite number Myler and his rival claimed the ball to turn defence into attack.

James Donaldson, the Leeds forward who was in the Hull KR side that lost 50-0 against Rhinos here five years ago, did get over the line but it was rightly ruled out for double-movement.

Nevertheless, Leeds did score with another fine effort just after the half-hour mark as Myler brilliantly palmed on Gale’s pass in an instant as Watkins rushed out and Liam Sutcliffe sent Ash Handley over, Martin converting for a 12-6 interval lead.

Pauli Pauli, the giant on-loan Wakefield Trinity forward, brushed past Gale to score in the 53rd minute but it would Gale who had the last laugh.

Leeds Rhinos: Myler; T Briscoe, Hurrell, Sutcliffe, Handley; Lui, Gale; Seumanufagai, Leeming, Oledzki, Martin, Mellor, Prior. Substitutes: Dwyer, A Sutcliffe, Donaldson, Cuthbertson.

Salford Red Devils: Evalds; Williams, Watkins, Welham, Inu; Lolohea, Brown; Mossop, Lussick, Dudson, McCarthy, Greenwood, Flanagan. Substitutes: Ikahihifo, Pauli, Yates, Burke.

Referee: Liam Moore (Wigan)