"mental toughness and strength, McGuire lacks this as does Sinfield"

Your words. Sinfield lacks mental strength. If you lack soemthing then you don't have it. If you can't read your own words I don't expect you to be able to understand anyone elses.

Taken out of context, the statement was made with reference to International performance, keep clutching.

Sinfield doesn't lack mental toughness, he has it in spades.

Size and speed maybe, but mental toughness? Can't see it myself.

I don't think it's DM's mental toughness that lets him down, I just think his game flourishes in circumstances that aren't often apparent against Oz/Nz. I also think he's lost a yard of pace and doesn't quite attack the half gaps as well anymore.

The problem with both Mcguire and Burrow is that, even at Leeds, they sometimes resemble headless chickens. It's good to watch and wins games in SL, but I don't think either are as naturally gifted as, say, Tomkins. Eastmond, it's too early to say.

Both good players, but I would guess most reasonable Leeds fans would concede that Mcguire isn't a 7 and that Sam Tomkins looks a better bet at 6.

Burrow from what I've seen has had his quietest year of recent times, although he would have been in my squad without question.

Keep back-peddling, it's hilarious.

Remind me again how many games O'Loughlin has played for GB/England that weren't meaningless warm-ups against the Welsh?

It would seem to be only you that perceives him to be better suited to the international game, the likes of David Waite, Brian Noble and Tony Smith would appear to think differently.

And I'd be trotting out the same argument irrespective of which club I support - to claim that O'Loughlin is "head and shoulders" above Sinfield at international level is absolute cobblers frankly.

There are a couple of things I might disagree about as matters of opinion, but that seems a rather more fair assessment of the situation than many around here to me.

No back pedal just stating facts.

Agian I don't need to read these things as I understand what mental toughness is and how it is vital!

BUT you can not show or prove or measure it! your theory is based on you looking at players x and y and saying one has it and the other one doesn't!

That's not sports science

it's bullsh*t!

but to then suggest that the mental toughness needed to be a part of a 3 times in a row champion side is from a different batch of mental toughness needed to play at international rugby is just bonkers!

Ah, but that's not international mental toughness.

Dumbest post ever. And that's stating a fact.

You are not! That's the problem!

Locky has been a stand out player every time he has played for GB regardless of the opposition, the Kiwi series we won 3-0. Tri Nations down under.

Sinfield is a far more naturally talented player with bags of ability but this does not transfer to the International game, Locky's style does.

The fact that his best International performance to date came when he has filled in at hooker speaks volumes in my opinion.

No its not its a fact again Domestic rugby league and International Rugby League are 2 different entities that offer and test totally different challenges.

Funny how Sinfield Wilkin and McGuire look like World beaters vs the French but offer next to nothing vs the best in the world.

It is all relative to the level.

That'd be the series where Burrow was named man of the series. The same Burrow you said wasn't cut out for international rugby.

You're talking gash dude.

He did have an excellent series but again has failed to do it consistently. That is the problem, it is not just a Leeds players problem it is a British rugby league problem, which is why we have had to go into this series with such an inexperienced squad.

Bollo*ks fella, absoloute bollo*ks.

Yeah but didn't you just say ''locky'' was the stand out man?? mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i smell a retard.

It's a problem cos a team like Wigan have over the last few years bought in too many average overseas players and offloaded good local talent. They are at last seeing the errors of there ways at least..

SOL hasn't done it consistently either as he's always injured.

Well said. SOL is a good player don't get me wrong but for this guy to say sinfield lacks mental toughness at international level is a joke.

He's not physically tough enough to play international RL

no i claimed Locky was a stand out man not the stand out man, so perhaps the you need a shower or at least a quick spray?

when he has played he has produced the good every time, or at least been one of the stand out players in a distinctly average side.

To hold his injury record against him is tenuous to say the least.

What about all the years Captain Sinfield could not get a call up when fully fit?

Subtle, but pretty sly nonetheless.

There isn't a "problem with McGuire and Burrow". They're the most successful domestic half back partnership around. They rarely look like headless chickens when playing for Leeds. Take how structured and disciplined they were in the GF.

It is often said on here that McGuire is a more natural 7 so does that make people who hold the opinion "unreasonable"?

Personally, I am not inclined to agree that Tomkins or Eastmond are more naturally gifted at all. Why would such a statement be justifiable at this stage in their careers?

People are jumping to a lot of silly conclusions based upon 40 mins rugby against Australia last weekend.

Eastmond and Tomkins look great players in the making but both still have huge question marks, a long way to go and a lot to acheive before I am prepared to annoint them over McGuire and Burrow.

I'd say cold hard "he didn't play so can't prove his consistency" assertions are less tenuous than mythical mental toughness scales, especially when levelled at a player who captained one of RL's perennial underachievers to the most succesful period in their history?

I like SOL and would have picked him before Sinfield, but not because he's somehow mentally tougher (it's not long since Wigan fans wanted him axed as captain because they saw him as a soft touch in the role) but because I think at international level a big pack is very important.

Agreed both do but so did McGuire and Burrow at there age and they still do (and that is being generous)

Like the last line, what do they have to achieve? Putting pen to paper on a deal to play for Leeds?