Rhinos beat Saints to secure Challenge Cup final spot

ACE FULL-BACK Zak Hardaker summed up the mood in Leeds Rhinos’ changing room last night in one word – “brilliant”.

Ladbrokes, sponsors of the Challenge Cup, revealed on the eve of the tie that a punter, who remained anonymous, had placed the biggest bet of the competition so far at odds of 8-13.

Super League champions Saints gave them a fright as they went in search of their first final appearance since 2008.

Rhinos started the game in exactly the kind of fashion that Brian McDermott would have hoped – within five minutes they were on the board thanks to a Hardaker try.

While Sinfield’s renowned game management provided the backbone to Leeds’ win, the 37-year-old Peacock provided what is surely the standout moment of this year’s Challenge Cup so far; rolling back the years with an astonishing solo try that all-but confirmed Leeds’ progression to the final.

Both in their final years before leaving the club – Peacock heads off into retirement whilst Sinfield will cross codes and play rugby union for Yorkshire Carnegie – they ultimately spearheaded Leeds’ charge into a fifth cup final in six years as the Rhinos saw off their great rivals St Helens in a thrilling semi-final.

Andre Savelio forced his way over and minutes later the young forward sent in Percival to cut the Rhinos lead to 18-14.

Tries from Zak Hardaker and Joel Moon along with second-half efforts from Jamie Peacock and Kallum Watkins were enough to see off a Saints side that will rue missed opportunities that were created in the second half.

That punter must have been a nervous wreck thinking about his £32,000 return as resurgent Saints, despite losing key forwards Joe Greenwood and Atela Vea to injuries, rallied and threatened to shock the holders.

The pressure finally told when Leeds kept the ball alive through Moon who drifted across the defence before offloading to Hardaker, who stepped the defence and ran in the first try of the night.

“You just wonder if he didn’t play the game like he did, which is a hundred miles an hour and tipping his guts into everything, whether he would get injured”.

Kevin Sinfield kicked the resulting goal and then a penalty to give Leeds an eight-point lead, before Rob Burrow’s break from inside his own half created the space for centre Moon to cruise over unchallenged.

Such was the relentless pace of the game, that both teams took off their leading front rowers Peacock and Alex Walmsley (St Helens) within 16 minutes and the introduction from the bench of Andre Savelio and Atelea Vea pepped up Saints’ attack.

They still had barely had any possession in the Leeds half, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook twice wasting what little scraps they did have.

“They find a way of winning and that’s an element that you’d like to have as a coach”.

Former England captain Peacock, in his final season as a player, belied his 37 years by showing a turn of speed and neat footwork to race over the line from 30 metres.

“The game will look different and it will be played at a different tempo, the ball will be in play for longer minutes than normal”.

Leeds have now won all three of their fixtures against St Helens in 2015, with their two convincing Super League successes built on dominant starts.