'I did it for him' - Leeds Rhinos star dedicates Challenge Cup final win over Salford Red Devils to late teammate

Handley scored Leeds’ second and third tries in a thrilling 17-16 win over Salford Red Devils which brought the Coral Challenge Cup back to Emerald Headingley for the 14th time.

And in an emotional interview afterwards, Handley said his thoughts were with James Brook, a fellow Oulton Raiders product who played alongside him in Rhinos’ academy and died in 2015 of a rare form of facial cancer.

Asked who he was thinking of after collecting his winner’s medal, Handley said: “My family have been there from day one, looking out for me, taking me to my amateur, scholarship and academy games.

“They watch every game - not just my mum and dad, my grandma and granddad and brother.

“It’s for them, and my dear friend who passed away, James Brook.

“He was in the scholarship with me and died of cancer when we were 18 or 19.

“I do it for him and his family as well.”

It was Handley’s first major final and he scored Leeds’ crucial third try which levelled the scores after Salford had hit back from 12-6 down to lead by four points.

That gave Luke Gale the opportunity to win the final with a drop goal, just four minutes from time.

Handley, 24, was a Leeds fan growing up and made his Rhinos debut in 2014, nine years after being a team mascot for the traditional Boxing Day game against Wakefield Trinity.

His brace came two weeks after a similar haul against Wigan in the semi-final and he also crossed in Leeds’ quarter-final victory over Hull HR.

“The nerves were awful towards the end,” he said of the first final to be decided by a single point since Leeds lost to Hull at Cardiff 15 years ago.

“I wanted the game to finish.

“Salford seemed to grow as the game went on and we were on the back foot, then all of a sudden I got that try at the back end and after that it was just scruffy. I don’t really remember it to be honest, I just remember Galey kicking the one pointer and us running the clock down.”

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Laura Collins