Leeds 22-20 Wigan: Rhinos win the treble with nail-biting Super League grand final victory over the Warriors at Old Trafford 

• Leeds led 16-6 at half-time after scoring three tries to Wigan's one 
• Rhinos' tries through Danny McGuire (2), Joel Moon and Josh Walters 
• Warriors scored through Joe Burgess, Dom Manfredi and Matty Bowen
• Retiring Bowen kicked three conversions and a penalty for Wigan
• Rugby union-bound Kevin Sinfield converted three of the four tries  

By Mike Keegan For The Daily Mail

Published: 13:57 EST, 10 October 2015 | Updated: 03:38 EST, 11 October 2015

They know all about trebles at Old Trafford. However, on Saturday night it was the rugby league men of Leeds who tasted triple glory at the Theatre of Dreams with an exhilarating triumph over Wigan Warriors.

This was a fairytale ending for the Yorkshire side’s departing trio of stars.

Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock and Kylie Leuluai were playing the last game of their illustrious careers for the Rhinos and each exited with the perfect send-off on the sport’s biggest stage.

Leeds Rhinos' Jimmy Keinhorst and man of the match Danny McGuire celebrate their grand final victory

Kevin Sinfield holds the Super League champions' trophy aloft after his side's tough 22-20 win

Streamers and fireworks are set off at Old Trafford as celebrates for the Rhinos' treble triumph kick-off

Retiring Jamie Peacock (right) is congratulated by Rhinos head coach Brian McDermott after their win 

But it was a man with a few miles left in his tank who sealed the victory. At 32, Danny McGuire will hope for more nights like this before he heads for pastures new.

And at a sold-out Old Trafford he was the difference, ensuring Leeds added the Super League Grand Final to the Leaders Shield and Challenge Cup.

Leeds lad McGuire, a clear choice for the Harry Sunderland man-of-the-match award, was sensational, scoring twice in a see-sawing Roses battle which saw Wigan come back to lead after being 16-6 down at half-time.

‘It was great for three of my best mates,’ the shattered star said. ‘They deserve it. We’ve played a lot of rugby together and we’ll definitely miss these guys.’

An emotional Sinfield, 35, will now make a cross-code switch to Yorkshire Carnegie having brought the curtain down on an 18–year association with the club.

‘I’ve been here a long time,’ the Oldham-born stand-off said. ‘The team tonight were rocking a little bit but we have been built on character and toughed it out — thankfully we just had enough.’

The drama took place before England’s union side played out a dead rubber across town.

Wigan's Joe Burgess slides over for the first try inside the opening five minutes of the grand final

Bowen lines up his first conversion of the day as the Australia full-back stars for Wigan

Danny McGuire dives over for Leeds Rhinos' first try of the match after a Kevin Sinfield kick

Rhinos celebrate after hitting back with a try almost immediately after Wigan took the lead in the first half

Jamie Peacock fends off Wigan prop Ben Flower as the Rhinos captain plays the final match of a stellar career

But this was far removed from a meaningless encounter, taking place in front of a record 73,000 audience — 30,000 more than watched the inaugural Grand Final between these two in 1998.

It was the perfect final. Yorkshire versus Lancashire, first versus second and arguably the two biggest clubs in the game.

The four Super League matches between the evenly-matched pair had resulted in two wins apiece.

Wigan, the slight bookies’ favourites, raced into an early lead with Sydney-bound Joe Burgess scoring after Sinfield was caught out of position.

It was certainly a better opening than last year for Shaun Wane’s side who were a man down to St Helens after two minutes when prop Ben Flower brutally punched an unaware Lance Hohaia and was sent off.

Sinfield however, made immediate amends, showing nifty footwork that would not have looked out of place at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon here to set up McGuire for his first. 

Leeds centre Joel Moon touches down for a try after captain Sinfield chose to run it after a penalty

McGuire slides through the short Old Trafford in-goal area for his second and Leeds' third try of the match

The playmaker ends up in the photographers' pit before Sinfield's conversion gives them a 10-point lead

Sinfield is patched up by a medic as he too plays his last Super League match before a move to rugby union

After the opening salvo, both sides dug in. With defences on top, the Rhinos took the lead on the half-hour mark with a controversial score when centre Joel Moon scooted over after what looked like a McGuire knock-on. 

It quickly got worse for those who had made the shorter journey with McGuire at it again, the playmaker on hand to finish after sensational work from centre-wing pair Kallum Watkins and Tom Briscoe had ripped the Wigan defence to shreds.

Sinfield landed the conversion from out wide to give clinical Leeds a 16-6 half-time lead.

Just two years ago, the Warriors had come back from an identical interval scoreline to see off Warrington and there was hope. When winger Dominic Manfredi picked Ryan Hall’s pocket after the Rhinos man had taken Warriors captain Sean O’Loughlin’s up-and-under it sprung eternal.

Matty Bowen made no mistake to bring it within four and the robust Queenslander, playing his final game for Wigan, soon put them in front.

When he picked up a pass around 12 yards out there appeared to be little danger. Seconds later, after a sidestep and a lightning burst, he was under the posts.

Dominic Manfredi comes down with the ball after a high kick from Sean O'Loughlin to score for Wigan 

Warriors players celebrate as they get the second-half off to a flying start and mount a comeback 

Matty Bowen rises after dancing through the Leeds defence to reclaim the lead for the Warriors 

Bowen, playing his last game of rugby league, produces a moment of magic for his side

Bowen had lost Grand Finals on both hemispheres. He was doing his best here to ensure it was third time lucky and added a penalty to extend the lead to 20-16.

It was not enough. With Leeds probing, Manfredi could not hold McGuire’s bomb and seconds later Josh Walters, a 20-year-old convert from sister club Yorkshire Carnegie was under the posts. Sinfield made no mistake with the conversion and victory was secured. Just.

‘If we played next week we would not be able to put a team out,’ said an emotional Brian McDermott.

‘I’m lost for words,’ added dog-of-war Peacock, a legend of the game who will now go into an off-the-field role at Hull KR. ‘To think my final game would be my best moment, what can you say?’

A magnanimous Wane was quick to praise his opponents.

‘The best team won,’ he said. ‘We will come back stronger.’

For his cherry and whites, a second fall at the final hurdle in 12 months. For Leeds and their departing heroes, the most fitting of finales.

Josh Walters crosses for Leeds' fourth try despite the best efforts of Manfredi in defence

Peacock congratulates Walters on what would be the winning try of the season-ending match 

A sea of blue from the Rhinos fans as they cheer on their treble-winning side on Saturday evening

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