Brian McDermott: "It wasn't a Hollywood moment, I believed we could do it"

Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McDermott has hit back at critics after they reached the 2017 Super League Grand Final- 12 months after fighting a relegation battle.

The Rhinos were forced to battle for their top-flight status after finishing in the bottom eight in 2016 but their turnaround in fortunes was complete after they gained an 18-16 win over Hull FC in the second semi-final to earn an 11th appearance at Old Trafford.

They'll now go on to face Castleford Tigers.

"The job is not done and, if we don't win next week it will hurt, but I think that's a huge achievement from the players who endured all sorts of ridicule,'' he said.

"Things were written and said about them. We only added one bloke to the squad and for them to first off finish second and secure top-four with two games to go in itself shows what a character they've got, and to get through to the Grand Final is big.''

"My group has had more honest chats than any other team in Super League."

McDermott almost brought ridicule on himself when he claimed his side could win the Grand Final shortly after they suffered a 66-10 hammering at Castleford in March.

"I believed it at the time,'' he said. "It wasn't a Hollywood moment, I believed we could do it.

"Because of what's gone on over the last 18 months, I reckon my group has had more honest chats than any other team in Super League. We nearly got relegated and that level of honesty now far outweighs the quality that we come up with on game day.''

The Rhinos' victory means that long-serving half-backs Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow will get the chance to bring down the curtain on their careers at Old Trafford but second rower Stevie Ward, who scored the opening try at Headingley, will almost certainly miss the game through injury.

"Stevie Ward has popped his shoulder,'' McDermott said. He's in hospital at the moment. I think they're trying to put it back in. I don't know the extent of the injury but he's looking doubtful for next week.

"We are pumped and over the moon but for him it's hard news.''

Leeds will go into the final as clear underdogs, having lost all four meetings with the Tigers in 2017 so far, and McDermott admits his side will have to raise their game if they are to pull off a shock.

"They are an extremely good team and we'll have to be lot better than we were tonight,'' he said.

"We're going to have to be on the money. They challenge you in nearly every area of the game. They're nine out of 10 in kicking, in yardage and in defence. Their defence is hugely improved this year.''

Hull fought back from 12-0 down to lead 16-12 thanks to tries from outgoing skipper Gareth Ellis, winger Mahe Fonua, who was also playing his last game for the club, and second rower Sika Manu but were undone by centre Liam Sutcliffe's solo try for the home side on 62 minutes.

"We're obviously hugely disappointed not to be going to a Grand Final,'' said Hull coach Lee Radford. "We just fell short unfortunately.

"I can't knock the effort, it was phenomenal. Leeds started like an absolute house of fire - it was like a smack between the eyes in that first 30 minutes - so to show the grit that we did and still be in the game when lot of teams would have folded was outstanding."