McClennan took over the defending champions from Tony Smith and steered them to a unique Carnegie World Club Challenge/ Super League double in his debut campaign.

Speaking after Saturday's 24-16 Grand Final downing of St Helens, McGuire said: "We have worked hard this year, we've had tough times, but we've stuck together and the coaching staff have been outstanding.

"Bluey (McClennan) has been great. He's not tried to change things dramatically overnight, he's just added a few subtle things here and there.

"He's such a positive bloke and so enthusiastic, you can't help but want to win for him.

"With Gaz (Ellis), Scroots (Nick Scruton) and a few other boys leaving, that was a bit of motivation as well. We wanted to do well for them and from one to 17 everyone dug in."

McGuire is the first player to score in three Grand Finals and he added: "It just gets better every year.

"I was disappointed with what I said last year, that it was better than the first one – but I can't help it, because it does feel better every time.

"The buzz after the game was unreal. The lads were so happy, everybody was celebrating – it doesn't get any better than this."

Second-row forward Jamie Jones-Buchanan played for most of the game with his head bandaged following a sickening collision with team-mate McGuire.

He said blood was running down his face "like water from a tap", but he insisted sitting the game out was never an option.

"I'm fine," he said. "I've had a few stitches, but once Jonesy (physio Meirion Jones) stopped the bleeding I just got on with it. That's what you do in games like that."

Jones-Buchanan said the game plan was to turn the screw on Saints from the start. "We wanted to put them in a dark place," he said.

"They are used to controlling games, but if you can spoil them and make them do things they don't want to do, you've got a chance of turning them over."

Hooker Matt Diskin said: "We were totally written off and that's what makes it more special, nobody gave us a chance. We had fire in our bellies to go on and achieve what we did.

"Winning the World Club and the Grand Final is a big achievement. We have had our ups and downs this year, but we've always known what our goals are and we've always been striving towards that.

"We are a talented, hard-working and close group. We are all friends and that does help."

A second winner's ring was "a fairytale" for substitute Ian Kirke, who missed five months of the season due to a hamstring injury.

He said: "Missing all those games was a bit of a nightmare, but now I can forget about all the bad stuff and I'm on top of the world again.

"If we switch on and we get our game right, we can beat anybody."