Challenge Cup triumph after adversity for Leeds Rhinos hooker Brad Dwyer

He was man of the match in Rhinos’ Betfred Super League win over Huddersfield Giants, picked up a two-game ban from that and then spent two weeks isolating and recovering after contracting coronavirus.

He was recalled among the substitutes two days ago and was involved in the second half as Rhinos booked a trip to Wembley – to face Salford Red Devils on October 17 – with a 
26-12 defeat of his hometown club Wigan Warriors.

Reactions at the final hooter were more restrained than after semi-final wins under normal circumstances, some Leeds players having been fined for celebrating in previous matches, under an RFL Covid crackdown, but it was a happy ending to a tough time and Dwyer revealed an inspirational quote helped him get through it.

“It is massive,” he said of featuring in the semi-final success. “I struggled at the back end of isolation with not necessarily the illness, just being locked up on my own in my apartment in Leeds.

“I saw a post someone put [on social media] saying some of your toughest times, you are only a couple of weeks away from some of your best times.

“It stuck with me, so at the end [of the game] it felt really good and I just tried to soak it in and really enjoyed it.”

Dwyer joined Rhinos ahead of the 2018 season, immediately after their most recent Grand Final win.

Since then they have been more used to fighting relegation battles than competing for silverware and Dwyer paid tribute to the way coach Richard Agar has turned things around.

“Rich has only been involved a year,” he pointed out. “A lot has happened, with Covid and so on.

“We were flying before the lockdown so it is massive for the club.

“There’s that many young lads who have come through and experienced the tough times over the last few years so it is massive for them to get some reward, but it is not about getting carried away now; we have put ourselves into a final and it’s about going and getting the job done and experiencing a final, a lot of us for the first time.

“Some of us have played in a couple before and lost so now we are focused on Super League and getting ourselves in position for another semi-final, but also for the final in a couple of weeks.”

Rhinos have a derby at home to Castleford Tigers on Thursday and visit Warrington Wolves – who lost to Salford in the other semi-final – three days before Wembley.

“Everything is coming thick and fast,” Dwyer said. “Everyone has got that many excuses they can use – the fact there’s no fans, we are being fined left, right and centre for celebrating, there’s games coming left, right and centre, injuries – but if you flip it on its head, we have a great opportunity.

“We are in the mix in both comps so we have to enjoy and embrace these quick turnarounds and enjoy being out there with the boys.”

Rhinos now have two in-form hookers and Dwyer paid tribute to Kruise Leeming’s contribution before the pair swapped places.

“My job depends how the game goes,” he said. “Kruise went really well, he killed it so it was a case of come on and try and not change things, just have a decent impact and bring some energy in D [defence] when we were tired as a group.

“But Kruise was great with his energy. Obviously I want to be out there as much as I can, but I am just happy the boys put us in that position and I just came on and tried to keep it going.”

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