So why did he go downunder?

Who McNamara? Because no one else would give him a job here.

A good move by Sinfield, it should give him a couple more years at the top of SL.

Regarding the international setup, it creates an opportunity for a new pivot, unfortunately there’s nobody that springs to mind, which is really depressing, as he hardly broke any pots when it came to trying to beat those pesky Aussies.

Sinfield's display in the WC semi was the best by a British halfback for donkeys years. What he brought to the team was control - something that virtually no other British halfback can offer.

Moving forward I'd have Tomkins in the halves with Widdopp, and Hardaker at fullback. Tomkins comes up with a clanger almost every game for the Warriors, but is classy going forward. Widdopp is doing OK, although at times has struggled due to the lightweight St george pack.

At least Sinfield won't be the scapegoat - it was ridiculous when directed at Farrell and is just as silly now.

Kevin Brown is such a creative player who would bring a new dimension to England. Very under rated. Rather he didn't play for England and Widnes could have his 100% focus. Really don't think he would get a look in any way

If Brown is the answer then it must have been a very stupid question!

Yes terrific control shown running out of the defensive line at the end of the game offering a clear run to the line and losing the lead.

Good riddance.

Yes terrific control shown running out of the defensive line at the end of the game offering a clear run to the line and losing the lead.

Good riddance.

Sinfields contribution for Leeds has been massive and with his decision to retire from international footy he should get a couple more seasons at SL level.
However, lets not over play his contribution to the International game.
He's been good but, not exceptional and England still need to find a world class HB pairing to try and find a way of beating Aussie and NZ.
He wasn't the answer.

Agree with all of that. There is nobody else eligible for England that can step in and perform like he did at 7 last year. Matty Smith is probably the best scrum-half we have but I'm not sure he's good enough. Widdop has been going well in the NRL for me and I'd line up as you suggest - Hardaker deserves a go as long as he can keep his mouth shut.

Short term this isn't good news for England. Widdop and Sinfield is the best, and most balanced English HB pairing available.
Moving Tomkins there is the obvious choice, and although Hardaker is the best defensive full back we have his link up play isn't that good at the moment.

You mean the play that followed a stupid penalty from one of our 'golden boy' props, which followed a terrible last-tackle kick from our superstar fullback?

I thought that it was Sinfield that put the final terrible kick in.

His international legacy will be defined by the missed tackle. In his previous 39 international appearances I can't remember any piece of world class excellence from him.


Tomkins and Widdop at half back, Hardaker at full back, Graham for captain.

Short term doesn't really matter, with Sinfield/Widdop pairing we wouldn't have won down under anyway. McNamara needs to go ASAP. Some blame Sinfield for the semi loss, some blame G Burgess. But it was Mcnamaras fault. We had a fresh Ablett on the bench who he didn't use, yet kept a big prop, out there who was on his feet in one of the most brutal tests I've seen.

Widdop is our long term 6/7. Think he's just been voted the best NRL recruit. I'd like to see Tomkins at 6 and Hardaker at 1.

It was Widdop who did the half-cacked bomb-cum-positional-kick that lost us territory. It was Burgess that gave away a very silly penalty and it was Sinfield who had no answer to the pace of Johnson, his rival number 7.

An international career that can be defined in one simple word;

"Meh"

Good news - this paves the way for a younger halfback combination

Bad news - his experience and leadership will be sorely missed even if he wasn't England's best halfback

How can any one say Sinfield did not have a good international career? non of the curent crop have had international careers as non of them play enough internationals for it to count as a career. in any other team sport you would have to have 50+ caps to be classed as a regular international. RL has not got an international game anymore (disapointing as it is for me to say)

I though it was Sinfield myself, If it was him why did he not kick it dead so we could have a minute to compose and get some air in? Maybe George Burgess wouldn't have made such a tired looking tackle if he'd a minute to get some air in his lungs.

If it wasn't Sinfield who kicked it (i'm pretty sure it was) then why didn't he kick it? he's supposed to be the leader and his game management is why he was in the team.

He was in the team for goalkicking and game management, both of which were lacking in the semi final. Sinfield cost us that game, not because he missed a tackle but because of what i've said above.

Or as quoted by someone else, maybe the idiot in charge of the team could have seen a forward out on his feet and brought a very fresh replacement on. I know Ablett is a back rower but isn't his remit to tackle endlessly? A decent proportion of the blame has to go to McNamara (I really don't rate him).



Anyone who has read any off my posts will know I am not a fan of Sinfield but the kick wasn't him so we can't blame him for that.

Almost certainly sure it was Widdop, I would go as high as saying 100%. You have put a little doubt in my mind but I am certain it was Widdop as I commented after the poor kick about him at the time for making a mess of it.

As for why didn't Sinfield kick it, what's the point of having everything go through one half back if you have two on the field? The Oz team rotate through Thurston, Cronk and Smith to avoid predictability. The kick by Widdop was poor as the ball was slow from the play the ball and IIRC didn't go directly to Widdop which meant his kick was slightly rushed and aimless. Much better would have been a deeper kick or a kick to touch (he was only about 10 years in from touch when he kicked it).

Ah well, what ifs and maybes eh?

Yeah, yeah. It's "building for the WC" that matters, right? The best thing England could do to prepare for a world cup would be to actually win an international tournament involving Aus, and NZ. Sinfield and Widdop are our best available HB partnership losing Sinfield now with no stand out replacement isn't good news for England in the short term.

Great control shown in the 2012 Grand Final, eh Mark?

Totally agree. I don't buy this building for the World Cup, best thing we can do is win an international tounament.

BUT we weren't good enough to beat either OZ or NZ on home soil. We historically struggle down under. So I think it's time to shift some of the old guard on. If they werent good enough last year, why would they be good enough in tougher conditions, when they are older and on wrong side of 30.

I do agree the best thing we can do is win an international tournament, but I think this is the opportunity to blood some future internationals. Let's get the Aussies when we play them on home soil, and they have to replace their spine.

It was Sinfield

It was definately Sinfield that put up that god awful kick which went straight to the fullback with next to no hang time. He (Locke?) then easily brought it back to the 30metre line with 90 seconds on the clock.
Sinfield has being bang average for England and despite his 'experience', when it mattered he got shown up, didn't copntrol the game at the most vital moment and made a massive error in judgement sprinting out the defensive line when at the very least NZ would have had to put the ball wider to score and IF they had of scored (less likely) making the kick far far more difficult.
As it was he stuffed up twice in 90 seconds..there in a nutshell is your 'King Kev'..an international also-ran