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Leeds Rhinos: The best one yet for me insists Peacock
ENGLAND captain Jamie Peacock set a new championship record – and then insisted "this is the best of them all".
Peacock has now won six Grand Finals from eight appearances at Old Trafford, following Saturday's 18-10 triumph over St Helens.
Nobody has more Super League winner's rings and only Leon Pryce, who was in Saturday's beaten team, has played in more finals.
"The competition's closer now," said Peacock.
"A lot more teams spend to the salary cap limit than they did seven or eight years ago, so this is the best one of the lot so far."
Peacock added: "I am just proud of all the lads. It took everybody to perform and play well to win and we did that.
"We really dug in as a team. Everyone was fantastic, it was a great performance from everybody."
Rhinos stuck to their guns when Saints led 8-0 in the first half and Peacock said: "We're used to it, we know how to come from behind because we've done it quite a few times this year.
"We've got belief in ourselves and our own ability and faith in each other, that's down to the way we train and the way we get coached."
Lee Smith apart, Rhinos' 2009 squad will be together again next year, with Greg Eastwood and Brett Delaney both coming in from Australia's NRL.
Peacock feels Leeds can get better. "The desire's there and we're adding to the quality of the squad, so I don't see any reason why not," he said.
"We've got on with things this year and developed and grown as a team. That's down to the coaching staff and the attitude of the players.
"We are all great mates and we've had a great season together. We'll enjoy this together.
"We finished top this year as well, so all the boxes have been ticked."
Four-time winner Rob Burrow said Grand Final victories get more special each time. "It's three in a row and we've created history now," he said.
"It's good to be part of it and it's an honour to play with this group of men.
"Saints are a fantastic side and we knew it was going to be a battle, but thankfully we've got a squad who can keep in there and we did enough in the end.
"We're confident in what we can do, but the game was going backwards and forward, they were up by a point, we were up by a point, so obviously you're concerned.
"But you look at the guy next to you and you're confident you can achieve anything with them."
Substitute front-rower Ryan Bailey dedicated his winner's ring to daughter China, who was born last week.
"It has been a special week for me," he said.
"We've worked hard this year and we came top this time, so we deserve it.
"I've had a bit of injury this year, but full credit to the conditioner and the coaching staff, they got me back in to it and I hit a bit of form towards the back end."
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Weather for Leeds
Thursday 24 May 2012
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