Harry Sunderland Trophy winner Michael Withers revealed it was literally a dream come true to score a hat-trick and be in Bradford Bulls' glorious 37-6 Grand Final triumph.

The 25-year-old free-scoring Australian, who made it 24 tries in 23 matches since switching to full back, says he had the dream earlier in the week - but it didn't include his man-of-the-match award.

"I had a dream and it all came together on the day - it's pleasing," he said. "But I also had a bad dream before that when I missed the bus, and I woke up in a panic!

"However, to come here and win is a dream in itself, and to get three tries was a bit of a bonus. Our forwards got on top really early on, and I was just lucky to get on the end of the plays."

It was Withers' amazing 20-minute try burst midway through the first half that put the Bulls on their way to victory in the most one-sided Grand Final at the Theatre of Dreams.

Withers personified the Bulls' brilliant support play by getting on the end of some sweeping crossfield passing movements to claim his fourth hat-trick of the season.

The Bulls were virtually out of sight at half-time, when they led 26-0. But was it the Bulls playing brilliantly or Wigan playing poorly?

Withers was in no doubt, saying: "We played well. We didn't allow them to play well. We dominated them in every aspect of the game. We were a lot more physical than they were."

It was uncannily reminiscent of Newcastle Knights' blazing opening against Parramatta in the NRL Grand Final in Australia a fortnight earlier but, unlike the Eels, the Warriors never looked like getting back into it.

"At half-time we talked about the Australian Grand Final where Newcastle got a good start," said Withers. "At 26-0, the game was over as long we completed our sets."

Bulls coach Brian Noble tried to play down his own part in his team's triumph, but the full back was having none of that, and said: "Brian Noble is a very good coach and it means a lot to him winning, being a Bradford lad through and through. It has been very special for him."

Added Withers: "The monkey is off our back and we have got the rings so we are happy.

"We have had a good year, though we were disappointed about losing the Challenge Cup final at Twickenham. However, we won the final the year before at Murrayfield so two out of three ain't bad.

"But Brian has got a fair point about us not getting the plaudits we deserve. We have led the competition since early on, and Wigan have headed us with 'minutes' to go. If we had won the Challenge Cup we would have done the double."

And the win banished the Old Trafford Grand Final loss of 1999 to St Helens, when Withers was wrongly ruled to have knocked on in the build-up to Leon Pryce's disallowed try in an 8-6 scoreline.

"The memory of '99 is buried now well and truly," said the full back, nicknamed 'The Ghost' for his ability to find gaps when they don't seem to exist. "It is a great feeling - a lot better than it was two years ago. We came so close, but it is all forgotten now."

Meanwhile, Withers was left to celebrate the greatest moment of his career and his decision to reject an offer to return to Australia to play with the re-formed South Sydney club.

"I nearly went back this year, but a few things persuaded me to stay," he said. "I've signed a new two-year deal and I'm pretty happy where I am."

His father Mark - a lower-grade coach at Penrith Panthers - had played the significant role in persuading the former Balmain threequarter to continue his career in England, and he was among the record 60,164 crowd, along with Mark's sister Rachael.

"I knew where my dad was sitting and when I looked up at him he was nearly in tears," said Withers.

"I'm very proud of my family and to have them here is very special. Dad's had the cup and drunk a few beers out of it."