Richard Agar reveals Leeds' Wembley party – including McDonald's in full kit!

RICHARD Agar hopes to keep Leeds’ party going after a memorable journey home from their Wembley win.

That included players getting on the bus after being kicked out of the dressing rooms, having a few beers and buying a McDonald’s from a motorway service station – while all in their kit and boots!

The Rhinos get back to more mundane business as they take on Super League champions St Helens after beating Salford.

But head coach Agar, who travelled back with the players while the rest of his staff had their own bus, still has memories of their unlikely cup celebrations, particularly a moment at Tibshelf Services on the M1.

He said: “It adds to it all. It was noticeable that we missed celebrating with the fans so we wanted to make it as memorable as we could.

“When I was coaching amateur teams, I used to love long coach journeys. They were some of the best and I’ve seen some unprintable things on them.

“But to get the boys together for those three or four hours, firstly in an iconic stadium and secondly in the sanctity of the team bus, I think they’ll remember that bus journey all their lives. Despite it being very different, it was very, very special.

“I’d got out of my suit and it was probably a bit surreal for the people at the services to see – they took the cup in too. By that stage I had no idea which services it was!”

While Agar still has memories of the celebrations, opposite number Kristian Woolf is ready for familiar threats as St Helens, described by the Leeds chief as, ‘the best team in the competition,’ look to burst their bubble.

Luke Gale, who helped end his World Cup dream with England, and Konrad Hurrell – who he coaches with Tonga.

Centre Hurrell admits: “I wasn’t the best before lockdown but I’m slowly getting back to my form now.”

But the man who takes charge of him at Test level is ready to stop the smiles just six days after glory.

St Helens boss Woolf said: “They’re going to have a lot of confidence off the back of a really good performance in the Challenge Cup.

“The final went how I expected it to. I felt Leeds would probably win but both teams showed they can put in a tough performance and hang in there.

“Luke Gale is obviously an important player for them and is key to their attack but I wouldn’t discount Robert Lui there too.

“And Konrad is a really class player. He’s terrific in how he gets his team forward but he’s also got that bit of skill that makes him a bit different.

“It’s a big game. Leeds are travelling really well at the moment and have been for the last month or so.”

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