Tuesday 3 October 2017 11:00, UK
Leeds Rhinos captain Danny McGuire is hoping to secure a "fairytale ending" to his time at the club as they prepare to face Castleford in the Grand Final at Old Trafford on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
McGuire and his team-mate Rob Burrow will leave the Rhinos after the Grand Final, with McGuire joining Hull KR after they returned to Super League at the first attempt having been relegated in 2016.
Castleford finished 10 points clear of the Rhinos after the Super League Super 8s but McGuire can boast an impressive record in Grand Finals, having won seven of the eight matches he has competed in.
That experience will come in handy on Saturday, with McGuire determined to keep his emotions in check as he attempts to help them land further silverware as he bids farewell to the club he first joined over 20 years ago.
"That's the dream, the fairytale ending of my Leeds career, I have been at the club since I was 12, so it is a massive part of my life," he told Sky Sports News.
"It's going to be a really emotional week. It's a very special week, the Grand Final with all the build-up.
"I am determined to enjoy it and keep everything in check and make sure my preparation is right for Saturday night.
"It's a great stadium to play at, the atmosphere is unbelievable and I have got some really good memories and we have won a few times here.
"Castleford have been the best team in the competition all year, so it is going to take a fair effort to win but we have put ourselves in a position to do that."
McGuire remembers influential Leeds trio Kevin Sinfield, Kylie Leuluai and Jamie Peacock leaving in 2015 after they had won the treble and he is hoping he and Burrow can also bow out after a Grand Final victory.
"I can't remember it being spoken about too much but we all knew it was going to be their last game," added McGuire.
"That obviously added incentive to send them out on a high. It will be unbelievable if my Leeds career could finish like that and I will be working as hard as possible to make that happen."
Castleford find themselves in uncharted territory after their remarkable rise to the top of the table this season and McGuire admitted the pressure of the Old Trafford season-finale can get to some players.
"It can be a little bit intimidating, with the build-up of the week and the extra media commitments, it can be a bit of a draining week," he said.
"You just have to stay calm and focused and make sure you know your role in the team, stay positive and keep in the moment.
"I am going to be leaving everything out on the field on Saturday and hopefully we can come out of it victorious, but we realise we have got a big challenge in front of us against a very good Castleford team."
Watch the Grand Final between Castleford Tigers and Leeds Rhinos on Saturday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports Arena at 5pm and on Sky Sports Main Event from 6pm.
