BIG MAC Danny signs off in the best possible way as Leeds rule supreme

Castleford .............................. 6 Leeds .................................... 24 from Julie Stott at Old Trafford

DANNY McGUIRE signed off his legendary Leeds career with a masterclass to win the Grand Final.

Most neutrals were keen to see Cas win the first title in their 91-year history after enjoying a sensational season.

But Super League’s runaway leaders came a cropper under the high-pressure stakes of the Old Trafford showpiece.

They shot themselves in the foot with a catalogue of errors and McGuire and his Rhinos punished them ruthlessly.

McGuire, 34, now has eight title rings and along with Rob Burrow – who is retiring – he dominated.

He scored two tries, kicked two drop-goals, had a hand in both of Tom Briscoe’s touchdowns and generally ran the game.

The winner of the Harry Sunderland Trophy, handed to the Man of the Match, even had his mate Burrow to thank for his second to seal a memorable night.

Burrow, who is joining the Rhinos coaching staff, put in the grubber kick for McGuire – who will be playing for Hull KR next season – to race on to.

The big question before kick-off was how Tigers would handle Zak Hardaker’s absence.

Their plans were thrown into disarray on Thursday when the Man of Steel runner-up was sensationally dropped for ‘breaching club rules’.

Cas had a ready-made replacement in Super League’s top try-scorer Greg Eden, who was originally signed as a full-back.

He was moved from the wing, with Jy Hitchcox being drafted into that position, so the disruption was fairly minimal.

But there were clear early signs of nerves from Cas with Adam Milner, Paul McShane and Greg Minikin all knocking on.

From Minikin’s mistake, Leeds pounced for the opening try after 11 minutes, with McGuire’s kick to the corner finding Briscoe.

Leeds delivered their own shock story with Stevie Ward named in the line-up – just a week after surgery. The forward had feared his season was over last weekend after dislocating his shoulder in the semi-final win over Hull.

Cas needed a good response to Briscoe’s opening converted try but first they got unlucky – and then lucky.

Shenton was ruled to have knocked on when Mitch Garbutt clearly reefed the ball and Leeds looked to have taken advantage.

Kallum Watkins appeared to have touched down another McGuire kick and referee James Child gave it but video ref Phil Bentham over-ruled him.

Eden was then denied a try by a superb McGuire tackle and Cas started to get frustrated as the chances refused to come.

Another chance for Hitchcox went begging for obstruction, while Briscoe was harshly denied a second for pushing McShane.

Man of the moment McGuire then landed a drop-goal on the half-time hooter but at 7-0, it was anyone’s game. However, a rare mistake from him gifted Cas an opening to get the second half off to a flier but Junior Moors blundered again to blow yet another chance.

Leeds instead slowly but surely went through the gears and drew on all their experience of nine previous Grand Finals.

McGuire’s 52nd-minute try was a killer blow. Watkins missed the conversion but even at only 11-0 down, Tigers’ body language was not great.

They had won their last eight games against Leeds, including by 66-10 in March, but this was a pale shadow of their usual displays.

When Briscoe pounced for his second converted try in the 59th minute, and his 150th of his career, it was game over for Cas.

McGuire put the icing on the cake with his second try and a second drop-goal

A last-minute try from Alex Foster really was no consolation for Cas.