'I wouldn't have wanted anybody else there chasing it': Danny McGuire on Ryan Hall's defining moment

For Ryan Hall, whose 20 years at the top brought trophies, records and unforgettable tries, it came in the dying seconds of a late September evening in 2015.

Leeds Rhinos arrived at Huddersfield Giants bidding to secure the second part of a potential treble but looked set to miss out on the top two altogether at 16-8 down with seven minutes remaining.

The helicopter commissioned by the RFL to deliver the League Leaders' Shield was already on its way to Wigan Warriors when the Rhinos staged a famous comeback and forced it to turn around.

With the scores level and the full-time hooter about to sound, Danny McGuire chipped over the Huddersfield defence. The ball bounced away from Scott Grix and into the grateful hands of Hall, the winger streaking clear to score a try that has been replayed ever since.

There may just be a few more views now that the veteran has hung up his boots.

"We had a good understanding," recalled McGuire, who spent a decade playing alongside Hall at Leeds.

"I always knew where he was going to be. I knew he'd be ready to chase and would be onside; I never worried that the try would be chalked off because he was always really disciplined.

"It was just one of those things that came off. It was probably one of the most memorable moments in both of our careers and Super League as well.

"I wouldn't have wanted anybody else there chasing it."

Hall produced no shortage of big-game moments over two decades, from his match-winning double in the 2012 World Club Challenge to his superhuman feats in the Challenge Cup final two years later.

But for McGuire, the tries told only part of the story.

"I've got loads of amazing memories playing alongside Ryan," added McGuire, who also coached his fellow Leeds native at Hull KR after convincing his old team-mate to make the move to Craven Park.

"The biggest compliment I can give Ryan is that he's always been himself and never tried to change or be anything other than himself.

"Everybody probably remembers him for his try-scoring and some of his amazing finishes – he was probably one of the first wingers finishing acrobatic tries and now every winger has to be able to do it – but it was more his toughness for me. He was brave in backfield and would always carry the ball when you were under pressure to get you out of trouble.

"Everyone appreciated some of the amazing stuff he did but what stood out for me was his toughness and being a good team-mate and mate.

"For me, that always comes before the player. Ryan was one of the best mates and players so he ticked all the boxes."

Hall's Super League story began in 2007, not long after being picked up from local amateur club Oulton Raiders.

John Bastian did not need long to decide that Hall was a Rhinos player in the making.

Now in charge of Wakefield Trinity's youth system, Bastian has found himself connected to another chapter in the Hall family's rugby league story.

"When I was sat at my desk and still a novice head of youth, the great Paul Daley gave me the wonderful tip about Ryan Hall, saying that he had some great potential," said Bastian. "He told me to go and have a look at this lad and that he thought I'd be impressed with him.

"I remember myself and Bob Pickles going along to watch a first-team game between Oulton and Stanningley in the Yorkshire Cup.

"Ryan was playing full-back that day and within 15 to 20 minutes he'd shown three things that you just don't teach: energy, enthusiasm and quality of skill. It was an easy decision.

"Ryan and I often chat about it. His son, Harry, is now on our scholarship over at Wakefield. He's in the under-15s and is developing nicely so there's another part to the journey there."

Hall has previously told the story of turning up to the club in red PE shorts, rubbing shoulders with academy players decked out in branded Rhinos gear.

Two decades later, he leaves behind a legacy few could have imagined that day.

"I never knew he would go on to achieve what he has achieved," added Bastian of a player who finishes with 358 tries in 540 games. "But I always think that Ryan would have known what he was capable of.

"His work ethic was superb and his attitude towards his team-mates was outstanding. He was always a very humble player but he was always ambitious.

"He achieved everything he wanted to and will go down in history as one of Leeds Rhinos' greatest-ever wingers, if not the greatest. I'm really proud of him."

A six-time Grand Final winner and England's all-time leading try-scorer, Hall's place in Super League folklore has long been secure.

He was equally popular at Hull KR, where he became a crowd favourite during his time under Willie Peters.

"I had the honour of coaching Hally," said Peters. "He certainly made others around him better – staff and players included.

"Hally reached the highest of highs in rugby league but that never changed the man he was.

"Hally will go down as one of the best wingers in Super League for what he has achieved in his career.

"Hally is a family man first and I wish Hally and his beautiful family all the best in the future. I have no doubt he will be a success in his next chapter.

"Thanks for the memories, mate."