Miles better - what a difference a year makes for Leeds Rhinos' Challenge Cup final Lance Todd trophy winner Richie Myler

The former scrum-half produced an outstanding display at full-back in Rhinos’ 17-16 Wembley victory over Salford Red Devils.

It has been a remarkable resurgence for Leeds - after going dangerously close to relegation last year - and Myler, who became a scapegoat for some poor team performances.

His Rhinos days appeared numbered when scrum-half Luke Gale joined the club and took the number seven jersey, but Myler has found a new role at full-back and reflecting on becoming the eighth Leeds player to be named man of the match in a Challenge Cup final, he said: “When you get adversity you go one of two ways with it.

“I am really proud it has come out good and days like this are what it is all for. Twelve months of hurt, I will take that for the Lance Todd and a winner’s medal.”

Myler was set to join Toronto Wolfpack next season, but signed a new two-year deal with Rhinos when the Canadian club ran into financial problems.

He hailed the current squad as a “special group” and praised coach Richard Agar for helping get his career back on track.

“Adversity throws up all sorts of challenges,” Myler said,

“What I love about Rich is his honesty; he was honest from day one and that’s probably what I needed, just an honest conversation from a genuine bloke who wears his heart on his sleeve and tells it as it is.

“Sometimes you can sugar coat things and that doesn’t help. Rich is phenomenal, the way he has come in and transformed this group.

“The belief he has given the group and the spirit he has brought has been phenomenal.

“He has always been straight down the line with me and that’s what I needed and I am proud that between us as a group we have managed to accomplish something.”

Rhinos are back in Betfred Super League action on Friday when they visit champions and table-toppers St Helens.

“We are still in the fight for the top-four and we are chomping at the bit to keep going,” Myler insisted.

“We have got a very special group who want to go on and achieve more things.”

Having never played at full-back before Jack Walker suffered a foot injury in February, Myler paid tribute to scrum-half Gale and stand-off Rob Lui for helping him settle into his new position.

The former half-back said: “Some of the players in the group have really helped me, the way Galey and Rob have been helps me play my natural game.

“Those two guys have been tremendous, they have really led the team - especially Galey, his kicking game is phenomenal.

“I am really finding my role.”

Leeds led 12-6 at half-time in the final, but found themselves 16-12 behind with 22 minutes left.

An error by Myler from a kick led to James Greenwood’s try which nosed Salford ahead, but he bounced straight back with a pass to put Ash Handley over for the equalising touchdown, before Gale booted the winning drop goal.

Myler reflected: “It was a strange game.

“The second half, I think we were at 50 per cent completions.

“We made errors and there were some moments where Salford probably could have won it, we hung in the game and had faith in one another.

“We are very confident and have a lot of faith in each other as a group that we’d get the job done.

“It wasn’t pretty in that second half, but at the end of the day we won and that’s all that matters.”

And Gale revealed he was spurred on after a talking to from Gale, Rhinos’ captain, after Greenwood’s try.

“It was a good kick, just short of where I could get to,” he recalled.

“It was one of those, I probably should have tried to take it.

“Galey gave me a good spray on the field, ‘you’re better than that Dicky’, I think he said to me.

“I think that’s the kind of relationship we’ve got on the field.

“We are pretty honest and I think that’s exactly what we need.

“We got to go down the other end and needless to say, I was happy when Ash Handley scored in the corner and it was back to 16-all.

“I think that made my evening a little bit easier.”

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Laura Collins