They weren't alone, but I thought these two inparticular were terrible tonight. Sinfield is the defensive weak link, and although he wasn't helped by some poor decsions from others around him he seems slow to react and his lack of pace gets exposed when he defends on the fringes. His play with ball in hand was poor as well. He has a very good mid - long range passing game but rarely uses it choosing instead to go on his own or throw a 5hite flat pass.

Peacock still has all the heart in the world but sadly he's really starting to look his age. He was dominated by the Warrington front row I thought.

12 rings earns you some off days. Take a look at Peacock's stats last week or Sinfield's display against Manly and you'll realise they can both still contribute.

Sinfield > Ward
Peacock > singleton

That not to say the latter two shouldn't be integrated during the remainder of this season

Yes they can both contribute, but can they still do it with the consistency that is the hallmark of a star at this level?

I'd like to see them both prove me wrong, but to me it looks like a few of our elder statesmen are starting to look a little tired.

I'm not sure either can be considered elite anymore and I'd be surprised if either played in next years world cup. They are still both good players though more than capable of playing at SL level

Agreed that both had poor, poor games tonight, but the effort was there. We need an attacking structure. There is a shocking amount of occurences where it takes a lot of our players 3 tackles to get behind the ball. Therefore there are no options and then we get dominated in each and every tackle.

I agree to a point but both players look on the decline. All the momentum went out of the attack when Sinfield gets the ball at the moment and his defense (along with everyone on the right hand side) is becoming a real problem. Peacock's stats still look OK, but its clear that nowhere near the player he was a few years ago, he's very slow playing the ball, his leg drive after contact has diminished and he seems a lot softer in defense. As I said the effort and work rate is still as good as ever but he's nowhere near as effective anymore. Although I do think he'd benefit from playing shorter spells.

Every dog has its day...but that day comes to an end at some point. Sad as it is, maybe these champions just arent what they were. Difficult decisions need to be made, but thats what seperates a coach from a great coach.

Sinfield is never going to be good when we have no options in attack, our off the ball work is shameful for the last couple of months and is the reason why sinfield is forced into the going on his own a lot at the minute. It's also the reason why we're getting bashed week after week, defence can just jam in on the (1 and only) runner and have complete control over the ruck.

Both our backrowers and centres need to take a look in the mirror IMO

Spot on.
It has to be down to the coaching staff to insert some discipline, some structure in attack and defence, and some intensity into this team. Yes halfbacks need to organise out there, but they will not be taking training, they have no actual authority over the team. The coaches absolutely have to get to grips with this team.

Sinfield and Peacock have still got alot to offer. But for Sinfield it is in the forwards and not as a dominating HB.
Briers showed how to vary the play tonight be it his kicking or running the line.
Sinfield slows the options down and his defence is the worse I have seen of him for a number of years.
JP needs a dominating pack to play with and his style has become predictable.
Having said that I don`t think anybody played well tonight and if we don`t give some of the youngsters a run over the next 3 games the forwards will be on their knees come August.

....and yet both are selected England players.

Someone needs shooting for their selection choices. Sad indictment for the international team really.

I still have a lot of time for Sinfield....but he is trying too much without much support. His defence on the right fringes is being exposed more and more owing to his lack of pace.

Peacock is shot. Schofield was right. Time for the lad to hang up his boots, or at least be used sparingly for much shorter periods in matches where he is still selected.

Peacock is far from shot. He isn't as good as he once was but to pension him off is a disgrace. He has loads to offer still.

Come play off time I want him in my team, not the opposition

Do you wear spectacles.....with a rose tint ?

No. I just recognise that rugby players are still capable of playing once they pass the age of 22, something that seems to pass you by.

If you were coach the first team would just be extension of the academy with a complete overhaul every 2 years

He's not shot, but he doesn't seeem capable of being effective for 50-60 mins a game anymore. He reminds me of Barrie McDermott around 2004/5.

Love the way other posters like to speak on my behalf



(It'd be every 1 year)

I've been racking my brain to think of top-class 6s or 13s who've gone on into their mid-thirties, and can only think of Darren Lockyer (34) and Ellery Hanley (35). The former has been the most outstanding player of the last 20 years, and the latter the most outstanding of the previous 20, so they can count as exceptions.

*Everyone* else, from Lewis to Daley to Fittler to Sculthorpe to Schofield to Edwards to Johns, was done by the time they were 32.

Both were terrible tonight. All of our forwards bar JJB were dominated in every collision. Peacock looks completely shot. If he is to play for England I hope he doesn't back up. Can Singleton or Smith offer any less than our pack in the moment?

As for Sinfield that was a horror show but you have to look at the two coaching strategies. Smith ran Atkins at Sinfield at every opportunity and he had a mare. Briers on the other hand was unmolested almost the entire game and ran the show. Remember the days we would run Senior at him all game? We did it once with the workmanlike Delaney and got some joy but it's not all about getting the tries. If halves are defending in that channel it's to keep them fresh. So you go at them hard and often to negate that.

One team did that, the other didn't.

If McDermott plays Sinfield in the centres in defence next game it will be a very alarming indication that McDermott can not recognize one of the things that is wrong and fixing it..

I think Peacock could do a good job off the bench, doing just 30 mins to rest starting props and keep teammates on their toes with his vocal leadership just before and after half-time. We just need some starting props now to implement that idea.

Both had a bad game last night. Get over it - the 2 legends and will play much better than that this season, they were just off their game last night (it does happen). I think they just need to be given a bit more slack. Blaming Peacock and Sinny is not the answer. Agree with starting Peacock on the bench though.

Aren't both high earners on longish term contracts? Unless another club would be prepared to take them on, you will have to find a way of accommodating them. They've both had great careers, but look as though time is catching up with them now.

It's easy to pick out JP and Sinny because they're our big game players, but throughout the team there are deficiencies which are hard to put down to 'being past it'. We are an ageing team, and a team who has played virtually every week for the last 3 years, throw into that internationals and fatigue must be setting in. JP is still a leader but needs to be spelled/rotated/rested more. He does big stints and is losing his impact. Sinny should be moved back into the pack (as we've been calling for for ages). But McD should be picking up on these things if we are. There's things that are obvious to all watching that he doesn't seem to see and won't change. Is it stubbornness or are we just blinkered? We do need to freshen things up, but when you can't go out buy/sign people, it's down to the coach to do that with training and tactics.

Genuinely surprised to see our pack knock Peacock around so easily. Is he not fully fit or is that indicative of how he is now playing?

I thought Peacock looked tired and Sinfield didn't have the best of days. I thought he seemed to be 'over-trying'

As for a couple of your other 'internationals' namely Ablett (the serial whinger) and Buchanan they were non-existent. The Exiles will be laughing there socks off next week and also very glad that Benny Westwood will be sat watching.

I am a fan of ablett but agree thought he was poor yesterday. I thought stevie ward looked good,