“I’m extremely happy for everyone involved at Shaw Cross,” said Barlow after the game. “It wasn’t our best performance but it was definitely our most important win.

“We knew what East Leeds were going to bring. We knew they’d be physical, we knew they were going to throw the kitchen sink at us. Everything they threw at us we absorbed, and we didn’t retaliate. I didn’t want us to drop to their level with discipline, and we didn’t lower to their standards.

“The pleasing thing for me is that we never looked like losing. We were always a couple of scores in front and we never panicked, we never let our emotions get on top us, and at some parts of the game we looked like we were enjoying it.

“East Leeds were getting frustrated, and for them to get frustrated against a young, inexperienced team just shows how good our young lads are.”

Barlow had plenty of praise for the youngsters, including under-16s forward Paul Chitakunye who made his home debut for the first team.

“Paul started at 10 and you’d think he had been in the first team all year,” said the Sharks boss. “He was outstanding, he didn’t put a foot wrong. In attack he was outstanding and in defence it was exactly the same.

“We had Harrison (Sutcliffe) and Bainsey (Brad Baines) playing as well and they were outstanding. Bainesy has got four tries in the last three games and is kicking goals for fun, and he just seems to be enjoying himself and he’s getting better and better.

“Harrison has been itching to get a game at half-back as he’s been playing all over. He got a game in the halves and he went well.

“Dec Naughton, the captain, led by example. It’s the first time he’s done 80 minutes this year and he scored two tries.

“Sam Ottewell has been in and out of the squad all year, he’s been at Featherstone, and he’s come today and performed, and scored two tries. When Tilly (Andrew Tillotson) came off he had to step up and take his boots (at half-back), and he showed what a class act he can be.”

The coach also offered great praise to 18-year-old French forward Ryan Ospital, who played his final match after a month in Shaw Cross.

“He’s played four games and been outstanding,” said Barlow. “He’s never taken a backwards step, he’s taken some big hits, and he’s been a revelation for us because he’s never played first team in France.

“It’s remarkable because the club that he’s come from isn’t as high as Shaw Cross. He’s come here and played first team and he’s looked like a senior player straight away, at 18 years of age.

“He’s really stepped up and performed and we’re going to miss him. He has said that he’s really enjoyed it, and hopefully he’ll come back next year.”