Leeds beat St Helens 18-10 in the Grand Final at Old Trafford to claim the engage Super League title for the third year in a row.

Lee Smith scored two tries on his farewell appearance for the Rhinos, who became the first team in the Super League era to complete a title hat-trick.

Matt Diskin also crossed the whitewash as Leeds hit back from falling behind to an early Kyle Eastmond try.

Saints had dominted the early stages and moved into an 8-0 lead.

But that was as good as it got for them as they failed to score more than 15 points for the ninth successive match.

Leeds recovered from the loss of second rower Ali Lauitiiti, who hobbled off five minutes before half-time, and defended superbly.

They conceded just that single try which came on 13 minutes when Jon Wilkin's kick came off the side of Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield's boot and bounced kindly for Eastmond to touch down.

The youngster converted his try and made it 8-0 on 26 minutes with a penalty.

However, Leeds were level by the break. Hooker Diskin used brute force to reach the line on the last tackle and Smith, who is moving to rugby union side Wasps, demonstrated opportunism to score after Saints winger Francis Meli failed to palm the ball dead from McGuire's kick.

Sinfield hit an upright with his first conversion attempt and was wide with his second but was on target with a drop goal 80 seconds into the second half to give his side the lead for the first time.

Saints regained the lead with Eastmond's second penalty, but Sinfield responded with his first successful goal.

St Helens, also beaten in the last two finals by Leeds, thought they had gone ahead when Eastmond went in at the corner but his foot had brushed the touchline.

The crucial try came with seven minutes to when Smith successfully chased McGuire's kick to pounce for his second try.

There was a suspicion of offside but the try merely confirmed the inevitable and Sinfield's goal, along with Rob Burrow's last-minute drop goal, wrapped up a deserved victory.

Afterwards a delighted Smith said: "It is unreal. It's my last game, and I didn't want it to end in anything other than this."

Leeds coach Brian McClennan added: "I am elated. It is fantastic.

"I just believed in the team and knew they would fight for one another.

"St Helens were really good tonight. But our tenacity got us through.

"What a special bunch. It could not happen to a better bunch of players."

St Helens veteran Sean Long, playing his last game before moving to Hull, admitted the better side had own.

"We built a lot of pressure in the first half. But full credit to Leeds - their defence was superb," he said.

"We didn't take our chances sometimes tonight - and they did.

"Sometimes it's a bit gutting. But I thought they deserved their win, and life goes on."