Adam Cuthbertson has tasted Wembley glory for the first time and admitted it will be a tough feeling to match for the rest of his career – and has praised the Rhinos squad as one of the best he’s been in.
Unlike the majority of the Leeds squad – who have tasted defeat at Wembley on multiple occasions – Cuthbertson has marked his first season in England with a Challenge Cup success.
And the forward has admitted that the squad Leeds have is one of the most special he’s been involved with.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” he told League Express. “It’s going to be hard to match that for the rest of the year but I’m sure we can. We’ve got a great team here and I truly believe that anything is possible with this exceptional group of players at this club.
“It has a really special feel about it, this group. It’s one of those teams who seem to have everyone’s back all the time and when stuff hits the fan we never panic, we fix it and tighten up immediately.
“When you’ve got a squad like that it’s a very special feeling and a privilege to be involved in.
“That was amazing to look down at the fans who came down to cheer us on. To lift that cup in a stadium like this in my first year in England is something I’ll never forget – it’s been an incredible experience and we’re all keen to kick on now and taste more of it.”
Cuthbertson was quick to heap praise on Tom Briscoe after his five-try haul earned him the Lance Todd Trophy – and he said the way he’s bounced back from a serious shoulder injury has left him shocked.
He said: “I’m so pleased for Tom. He’s had a tough year with his injuries and the way he’s bounced back has been incredible.
“I said to him after the game, ‘How do you do it?’, he’s come back so strongly and it’s a tough ask to get yourself back after a shoulder injury but he’s done it so well. He didn’t have simple scores he created a lot from nothing and it’s really pleasing for us all to see him come back from a mid-season injury like that and put in a performance like that at Wembley in a major final.”
