Gareth Ellis lifts the prize [GALLO/GETTY]

Coming into the match as underdogs, Leeds put in a near-seamless performance led by scrum half Rob Burrow and man-of-the-match Lee Smith, converted from wing to full back after injury to Brent Webb.

Saints, unbeaten in 25 matches before Saturday, were left to rue basic errors as coach Daniel Anderson was given a losing finish to his time in England.

Rhinos carry the trophy back to Yorkshire after battling from behind to humble their Lancashire rivals.

Missing Superman

In a jubilant Leeds dressing room, the players danced for the TV cameras singing "Brent Webb is Superman", in tribute to their injured teammate watching at home on the sofa.

And Smith, the scorer of a first-half try, paid his own tribute. "I feel for him. He's the best full back in the world and he's missed a big game," he said.

"I stepped up from the wing and I told Webby I'd do him proud – and I have done him proud. He's probably at home crying his eyes out.

"I've just had a few minutes on my own with the trophy in the dressing room. There's some massive  names on there. I don't think it will all sink in until I'm with my family next week, maybe Wednesday or Thursday."

Hammering

As early as the sixth minute, St Helens looked as if they might repeat their 38-10 hammering of Leeds in the first elimination match last month.

Prop James Graham celebrated his crowning as the Super League Man of Steel by finishing off the superb work of Lee Gilmour and Paul Wellens, who exchanged passes before putting in the 23-year-old for an easy touchdown by the posts.

Sean Long converted, but two minutes later the scrum half made a basic handling error near his own line to almost allows Rhinos in, before Gareth Ellis knocked on after a thundering challenge from Saints' Willie Talau.

Leeds pressed forward again and Ade Gardner conceded merely a scrum when deflecting the danger of a high ball into the corner from Burrow.

Then Gilmour powered out of defence again, shrugging off challenge after challenge to set up a Matt Gidley drive for the line, but the centre was barrelled into touch with inches to spare.

Walking wounded

Lee Smith slides home [GALLO/GETTY]

Leeds began to come into their own as Burrow, the smallest man on the pitch, started to pull the strings.

The livewire scrum half picked out the rampaging figure of Keith Senior, who was held just short.

Then, on 24, vindication for coach Brian McClennan's decision to put Smith at full back to replace try-scoring Kiwi Webb, sidelined with a back injury.

Smith must score

Long conceded a penalty, allowing Burrow to set up Jones Buchanan, who stood up in the tackle to offload for Smith to scamper through and power over the line.

Kevin Sinfield converted from the touchline to roars from the travelling Yorkshire fans.

Six-all, and Saints were still being pegged back. Long increasingly turned to his kicking game to force openings, but Smith proved equal to the Wiganer's efforts.

As the rain swirled round Old Trafford in a mist, so came the handling errors. Both sides had chance to break clear into acres of green, but were unable to grip the ball under challenge.

With four minutes of the half to go, Burrow's influence told again as he spread the play to Rhinos captain Sinfield.

Hall makes mark

His long pass out to Senior was almost intercepted by an onrushing Francis Meli, but quick hands from Senior got the ball to Ryan Hall, making his first appearance since July.

The wing kicked a grubber deliciously down the line, chased, and got enough on the ball in the corner to leave the video referee in no doubt.

Another conversion by Sinfield made long-range place-kicking look easy, and Rhinos were 12-6 up on a rattled Saints at half time.

Silent footage of the half time team talks showed a calm McLennan praising and encouraging, while Anderson unleashed a furious fist-shaking tirade at his sheepish-looking players.

Saints respond

St Helens' departing coach will no doubt have reminded his men of the humiliating 33-6 defeat to Rhinos in last year's final, and the Lancashire team responded early in the second half.

Just two minutes after the restart, Long redeemed his earlier error to send a high ball into the corner. Gardner either displayed genius or fumbling hands to touch the ball onto Gidley, who charged over the line out wide.

Long stepped up, and parity was restored.

Not for long. In a move that was all Rob Burrow, Leeds scored the try of the match. Capping two minutes of playing puppeteer in front of a frantic Saints defence, Burrow darted through to make vital yards.

Cheeky tap

From the tackle, the dummy half fed Sinfield, who played the cheekiest tap through for Danny McGuire to collect and slide over.

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, who calls this pitch home, could hardly have picked out a better pass.

Sinfield put over, 18-12 Leeds.

Wounded, Saints fought back. One attack petered out just as it seemed certain to produce a try, before Graham was held up over the line on 56 minutes.

Two minutes later, Saints broke through. Gardner got his reward for smothering a loose ball as Rhinos threatened to counter, and as Anderson gesticulated furiously in the dugout.

Bearded flyer

But his rage didn't last. Gardner's work kept the momentum with Saints, and the bearded flyer was picked out on the wing by James Roby for a routine touchdown in the corner.

Long missed the kick, and Saints had only a minute to contemplate two dropped points before Rhinos scored again.

Meli failed to deal with a high ball, McGuire picked it up, and zig-zagged his way to the posts leaving flailing defenders in his wake. Sinfield couldn't miss his 2,000th point for the club, and Leeds were 24-16 to the good.

Things immediately got worse for St Helens as Paul Wellens sent the restart straight out on the full

Looking every inch the beaten side, Saints could not repeat their earlier inroads.

Second row Jon Wilkin went to kick downfield, only to be contemptuously cuffed to the ground by Rhinos replacement Ali Lauitiiti. The kick spiralled dead.

With five minutes to go, desperately trying to lift his team, Long made another error, kicking straight into touch on the offensive to hand the impetus back to Leeds as the Rhinos fans rocked in the stands to end a miserable night for St Helens.