AMONG the places name-checked in the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu’s It’s Grim Up North are Castleford and Leeds, although this was an occasion for the citizens of both to celebrate and shout proudly about their home town and city.

Said occasion was, of course, the Super League Grand Final; the climax of the 2017 rugby league season at Old Trafford, the débutantes versus the seven-time victors in this showpiece game, and the battle to decide which of them would carry off the impressive trophy.

Among the other places name-checked by Messrs Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty in their 1991 top-10 hit is Barrow, and while it may have been more than two decades since Barrow Raiders were last sitting at rugby league’s top table, the town continues to produce individuals who are.

Leeds Rhinos prop Brad Singleton is just one of those, and after playing a starring role in their semi-final victory over Hull FC eight days prior to Saturday’s Grand final, he was back at the self-styled Theatre Of Dreams with his team-mates aiming to add a second winners’ ring to his collection.

League Leaders Shield winners Castleford had already beaten Leeds four times in Super League this year heading into the Grand Final, including a 66-10 thrashing when they met at The Jungle back in March.

But Brian McDermott’s side, as they have done so many times in the past, won the one game which mattered most to lift an eighth Super League title with a 24-6 victory over their Yorkshire rivals, just one year after being condemned to fight in out to avoid relegation in the Qualifiers.

“It’s massive for this group of players and to do a team like Cas in the final after losing four times – and there have been some dark times in those losses,” said Singleton.

“Everyone wrote us off all year, and even finishing second and getting to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, I don’t think we got the credit we deserved. To do it now and in that style and fashion, I think it’s massive.

“We knew how to step it up; we did it against Hull the previous week and we’ve done it again. We contained their yardage, the kicking game was good, the forwards were good and I think the work ethic won us that game.

“It’s commitment to the cause and when you get pushed against it, I think this team is better than most to come together.”

Singleton, along with Rhinos team-mate Anthony Mullally, already had something to celebrate before kick-off, having been named in the Ireland squad for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea which was announced in the morning.

Among their matches in Group C is the daunting task of taking on co-hosts Papua New Guinea on their home turf, plus a clash with Wales and an inter-pool showdown with Group D side Italy.

The National Football Stadium in Port Moresby, with the humid air and hostile atmosphere, is a sort of enter-ye-who-dare venue for visiting teams, as touring sides from these shores and beyond have discovered on previous visits.

But playing in front of a sell-out 72,827 crowd in the ultimate season-defining encounter should be enough to steel anyone for such an experience – and that is without taking into account the flame and fireworks, both sets of fans trying to out-sing each other and Laura Wright belting out Jerusalem with gusto which greeted the players as they made their way out onto the pitch.

Emotions were running high on a personal level for the Rhinos too, with club icons Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire making their final appearances after deciding to hang up their boots at the end of the season.

For skipper McGuire in particular, he could not have asked for a better way to sign off. The 34-year-old stand-off scored two tries, kicked two drop-goals and was awarded the Harry Sunderland Trophy for being named man of the match, making it a fairy-tale ending.

In years to come, he will perhaps be associated with this match in a similar way to Sir Stanley Matthews and the 1953 FA Cup final, with Singleton and his team-mates delighted to give the half-back and hooker Burrow such a send-off.

It is not too dissimilar to how Leeds said goodbye to Kylie Leuluai, Jamie Peacock and Kevin Sinfield in 2015, although this time the belief is there the squad are better placed to step up and adapt to the departure of two players who have been such a significant part of the fabric of the club.

“To see Rob and Magsy off in that fashion – and for Magsy to see himself off in that fashion – is just unreal,” said Singleton.

“It’s just Leeds Rhinos; it’s a movement rather than individuals.

“Holes were left last year and to say they have not been filled would be a lie because we are here and we have won the trophy, so I’d like to say it’s in good hands.

“Mac (head coach McDermott) plays me big minutes and I like to be very vocal, so I hope the fans are re-assured we have got this under control, the likes of me, Stevie (Ward), Kal (Watkins) and the others.

“That’s not being big-headed, that’s just the reality of it. We’ve won the trophy and hopefully we’ll go on to have another big year.”