YEP Jury: So fitting to see our new No 7 win the Cup for Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow

MATT FOWLER

What a game. It was tense, nerve shredding, but ultimately joyous.

We often talk about teams needing to go on a journey together and experience the lows before tasting the highs. This team, club and fans have been on that journey together, probably more so than ever before. Add in the devastating news but also inspirational fight of Rob Burrow and you have a victory that will live long in the memory.

The only regret is the fans were not there to saviour in the glory of another Challenge Cup win. I am sure when Headingley reopens, we will mark this victory in some way. There is no doubt we deserved to win, on top for most of the game, and then holding our nerve to find that killer punch. A sign of a good team to be able to stay calm when losing a lead.

Now the new challenge is to finish the season strongly and give ourselves a chance of play-off football. The great Leeds teams often struggled after Wembley, lets see if we can kick on and mount a title challenge. Get to the play offs and anything can happen. Keep believing.

CHRISTINE KIDD

Challenge Cup final Day 2020 was unlike any other. No crowd, no Cup presentation. The scene was set with Lizzie Jones singing Abide with Me on Castle Hill, Huddersfield. Goose bumps all round.

There was no presentation of the teams just Lizzie’s rendition of the National Anthem. There were so many reasons why the Rhinos players wanted to win the Challenge Cup all underlined by the thought of Rob Burrow.

This looks like the beginning of a new Golden Generation and every player young and old did their bit. Luke Gale steered his team round the pitch and provided the game management that had been sadly missing over the last couple of years.

Some people were disappointed that Richie Myler was chosen at full-back but he proved them all wrong by putting in a Lance Todd trophy performance. Another Wembley try from Tom Briscoe and a brace from Ash Handley followed by a Luke Gale drop goal and the Cup was on its way back to Headingley.

Next up for the Rhinos are St Helens. It will be interesting to see what team Richard Agar picks for Friday night.

GRAHAM POULTER

What a fantastic final that was. You never knew which team would win the game as it was end to end.

Both teams played their part in a thrilling game, even though Leeds nearly lost the plot and the game in the second half.

It was fitting that Luke Gale, playing in the same shirt number as Rob Burrow, kicked the drop goal that ensured Leeds came out victorious.

It’s all about the result in a final and Leeds did what they had to do. It was very emotional knowing that the players were doing their absolute best to gain victory for not only themselves and the club, but for Rob Burrow.

Let’s hope that it put a smile on his face. It’s good to see Leeds back in the winning enclosure again, let’s hope it’s the start of something special.

I said that Challenge Cup could well provide Leeds with their best chance of a trophy this season and it’s quite remarkable after all the doom and gloom from the last two seasons.

So now can Leeds carry on their good form when they visit St Helens on Friday night and get the win percentage back up again?

It would be fantastic if they can beat Saints, or it could be a case of after The Lord Mayor’s Show, we’ll see!

DIANNE HALL

Wow! How would I describe Saturday’s final? Surreal!

That is the first Cup final, involving Leeds, that I have had to watch on television for a while. Not an experience that I want to repeat.

Usually, with any final involving Leeds, the neutrals shout for the opposition but because of the current situation with Rob Burrow I’m sure a few more were on our side.

It was a contest of two evenly-matched sides and I thought that there would be plenty of points scored, with us just shading it.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be decided by one point. Well done Luke Gale.

Everyone played their part in a very workmanlike performance with a special mention to record-breaking Tom Briscoe who was safe under the high ball and ran the ball back in determined style.

As did Richie Myler who was a deserving man of the match at the end.

The idea to hang Rob’s shirt in the changing room was inspirational as I’m sure he was our 18th man!

The treble is still on!

IAN SHARP

Well that was a twitchy last five minutes! One of the best Challenge Cup finals in many a year and it was played in front of nobody, which was a real shame not only for both clubs, but the natural fans that go every year to just watch a cup final.

With all that has been going on with our legendary number seven, it was great to see our new seven step up and slot over the winning point.

We looked so good in the first 25 minutes, but great credit to a well drilled and organised Salford side, they kept us to only a few points.

I thought they were excellent and it shows a great manager can work wonders without a squad full of stars.

We had great kicking from Martin, and when Dwyer came off the bench he added much needed go-forward from the ruck.

Another big test this week when we go to Saints.

After the high of winning the Cup, teams have been known to drop off a notch and we can’t do that, with our win percentage dropping us to fifth in the League.

We will see where we are against the best team in the competition at present.

ADAM ANDERSON

What a weekend. After the past two seasons, who would have thought we’d be Challenge Cup winners?

We were all hoping for the win just for one person, Rob Burrow.

It was possibly the most tense and nerve-wracking final that we’ve been involved in. Richie Myler shone once again at full-back.

Winger Tom Briscoe does what he does best in finals and Ash Handley is as consistent as ever.

But it was written in the stars who would be involved in the winning move wasn’t it?

Luke Gale, the Rhinos number seven, kicking a drop goal to clinch the victory at Wembley.

This week will be a very tough game against current league leaders St Helens.

History is certainly against us, as the Challenge Cup winners usually lose in the game after the Cup final, but we can still hope the lads come out with the win.

We hit a very busy time now with six games in 20 days, we will all be praying that we can get all the games done and be in the top four.

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