Leeds' two-try hero Ben Jones-Bishop led the tributes to a "phenomenal" Kevin Sinfield after he kicked Wigan out of the Challenge Cup.
The Rhinos captain was in imperious form as the Super League champions avenged last year's Wembley defeat with a surprise 39-28 triumph in a rip-roaring semi-final at Huddersfield's Galpharm Stadium.
Sinfield subdued the holders, and in particular danger man Sam Tomkins, with an astute kicking game and helped created four of his side's six first-half tries as they established a 30-12 lead.
Jones-Bishop and co-winger Ryan Hall both profited from Sinfield's pinpoint kicks to the corner as Leeds secured a place in the final for the third year in a row, looking for their first win since 1999.
"He's the first one on the training field and the last one off it," said Jones-Bishop. "He's constantly practising and it shows.
"He was able to do that thanks to the great work from the forwards, who set the platform. He had a lot of time to kick and he was unbelievably on the spot every time.
"He's very good at the minute. He's obviously our captain and he leads from the front. He's a phenomenal player."
The Rhinos' seven-try triumph completed a remarkable turnaround in fortunes, coming just six weeks after they were humbled 50-8 at home by the Warriors.
"This is a massive win for us," said Jones-Bishop. "We hadn't beaten Wigan in two years and it was mentioned earlier.
"We focused on ourselves and what we needed to do to break them down. We had a great game plan and we peaked on the pitch. It worked out fantastic for us.
"I think the first 20 minutes was pretty much perfect from us and we kept that up for the full game."
Leeds will have six weeks to wait for their big day at Wembley and, in the meantime, will be looking to continue their climb up the Super League table to give them the best possible chance of successfully defending their title.
The Rhinos famously won the Grand Final from fifth place last season but, after putting together a four-match winning run, now have their sights set on a top-four finish.
Their next match is a mouth-watering derby at Headingley on Friday with Bradford, who have won their last three matches despite continuing uncertainty over their future and with a points deduction looming this week.
"Obviously we've got a big game on Friday with Bradford," added Jones-Bishop. "With their situation, they'll be up for that.
"We need to keep the form up in the league and get in that top four if possible.
"We've got six weeks before Wembley and, with each performance, we're building for the final."
