After 15 years and six Challenge Cup Final defeats you could have forgiven Leeds Rhinos for wondering if this day would ever come.

However, at his sixth attempt, Leeds skipper Kevin Sinfield finally got his hands on the Challenge Cup trophy.

And speaking after the game Sinfield told us that Leeds victory is proof that perseverance pays off.

“For a club like ours to take 15 years to get our hands back on the trophy is too long so today is special,” said the victorious captain.

“The group and our fans have had to persevere through a lot of adversity down the years so to stand here smiling today is a great feeling.

“We wanted to win it for the right reasons and it just shows sometimes that you have to persevere to come through.”

Sinfield has certainly had to endure his fair share of adversity to get to this point.

Having been the captain of Leeds sides beaten on five previous occasions, he finally got his hands on the coveted trophy and admitted the difference in 2014 was the clinical nature of the Rhinos display.

“There’s always been a resolve but at times we’ve not played as well at Wembley as we could have but to come here and execute a game plan the way we have is great,” he said.

“Today was about a ruthless performance and we executed a game plan as well as we could which was masterminded by Brian and his coaching team.”

Sinfield then went on to dedicate the win to the club’s fans who have had to endure so much Challenge Cup heartache in recent years.

“To lose five has been horrible so to finally get our hands on it is special,” he told the assembled media at Wembley Stadium.

“It’s great for the players, the coaching team and for our supporters who’ve had to drive back up the M1 having spent their hard earned money.

“I don’t think it erases those previous defeats and I wouldn’t want them erased but it helps.

“Today we’ve sent them home happy.”