by Our Sports Desk

LEEDS captain Kevin Sinfield is looking forward to embracing the butterflies one last time as a rugby league player in today’s Grand Final against Wigan.

The 35-year-old, who is switching codes to join Yorkshire Carnegie, will share his final match in a Rhinos shirt with Jamie Peacock and Kylie Leuluai, who are both retiring from rugby completely following the Manchester showpiece.

Last weekend’s play-off semi-final victory over reigning Super League champions St Helens gave the decorated trio the opportunity to bow out at Old Trafford and Sinfield the chance to become the first captain to lead the Rhinos to the treble.

“I’ve no doubt I’ll be nervous on Saturday,” said Sinfield, who made his Leeds debut in 1997.

“I was nervous on Friday knowing what was at stake at Headingley and that it was my final competitive game there.

“But I like being nervous and that feeling with the butterflies and the excitement of playing on Saturday evening.

“Maybe afterwards you might see some emotion depending on how the result goes but it’s just important we focus on performing and playing well.

“I think if we start getting caught up in the emotion too much, think about what might be and all the fluffy stuff that can go with that, we’ll get beat.

“Wigan are too good a side to not have control over our own emotions.”

The former England captain led Leeds to their first title in 32 years in 2004 and went on to lift the Super League trophy another five times between 2007 and 2012.

The Rhinos have not reached Old Trafford since the last of those victories against Warrington and Sinfield admitted he had missed the place.

“It’s great to be here again today,” the two-time Harry Sunderland Trophy winner said earlier this week.

“It’s three years since the last time we were here but I don’t think the place ever loses its magic. It’s been a special place for the Rhinos — we’ve had some big nights here.

“I’d love to be able to lift the trophy one more time — there would be no better way to bow out.

“When the announcement was made back in March, you have an idea of how you’d like it to look and finishing off here with the trophy would be brilliant.”

On the prospect of winning the treble, Sinfield added: “It’s obviously unique because not many teams have been able to do it and in my 19 seasons playing at the Rhinos we’ve never had an opportunity to do it before which shows how special it is.”