Leeds laid to rest the ghost of Graham Murray with their memorable extra-time victory over Super League champions St Helens in an epic Powergen Challenge Cup semi-final.

Murray, now back in his native Australia coaching North Queensland Cowboys, was the last coach to bring silverware to Headingley, courtesy of the Rhinos' 1999 cup win over London Broncos.

Although Murray was only in charge for two years, he is still revered at Leeds.

But Saturday's exhilarating win maintained Leeds' 100 per cent record in their best start to a season for 31 years and gives current coach Daryl Powell the chance to emulate his predecessor.

"Graham was a great coach and a great influence on my career but it was time to put that era to bed," said winger Francis Cummins, Leeds' longest-serving player.

"Fans were saying 'Graham Murray, Graham Murray' every two minutes last year but you've got to move on.

"He was brilliant but you've got to move forward. Let's take this Daryl Powell era and see where we can go."

Powell enjoyed his finest hour as coach as the Rhinos successfully combated the effects of fatigue to see off Saints in arguably the finest semi-final of all time.

They forged into an 18-6 lead with two tries from right winger Mark Calderwood and one from Cummins, all from kicks, but looked set to succumb to their arch rivals for the third time in successive semi-finals as St Helens found their rhythm.

A try from centre Paul Newlove in the final move of the first half brought them back in the game and stand-off Paul Sculthorpe grabbed a try early in the second half.

When second rower Darren Smith went over for his second try five minutes from the end of normal time to make it 26-20, Saints fans began to celebrate a third successive final appearance.

But there were several more remarkable twists.

Leeds substitute Danny McGuire went over in stoppage time to bring his side back to within two points and skipper Kevin Sinfield kept his nerve to tie the scores with a touchline conversion.

Sinfield edged the Rhinos back in front for the third time with a drop goal. It was left to the 20-year-old McGuire to finish things off.

Updated: 09:41 Monday, April 14, 2003