Are you saying the rest of his game is anything more than SL standard, because I just don't see it. What I have seen this year is a willingness to kick long from McGuire, something that had largely given over to Sinfield and Burrows, so there is growth there and he does look an accomplished 7, whereas he didn't look that good when forced into that role in previous seasons.

Mcguire has only played half a season and in fairness is just getting getting back to the form of last season, which was outstanding. There was no more influential player in superleague last season and Mcguire carried the team for large parts, when Sinfield was out injured and when burrow was out injured. He beat Wigan almost single handed in the play offs and dictated the game as he did many others. If the accusation is that Mcguire is not good enough against the Aussies, well it's no good looking on these shores for anyone who is better than the aussies because we ain't got anybody.

I'm assuming you are referring to Leeds, as whilst he may have scooped the awards for Leeds in a largely disappointing 2010 I don't recall him being in the running for any other honours, be that representative, Dream Team or the Man of Steel Awards

It’s strange isn’t it that when somebody gets labelled a support player they are always a support player

Danny McGuire is pretty good at backing up and scoring tries (never a bad thing) but that’s not all there is to his game. In 14 appearances this year, he is credited with 12 try assists, that’s one more than Danny Brough who has made 7 more appearances... he has also made 5 more offloads

I agree that he lacks some of the skills that you would associate with a ‘complete’ half back such as a quality kicking game (Leeds manage perfectly well as they have other kicking options) but McGuire’s creativity with the ball is often under rated

He will not be first choice in the halves - he wasn’t even in the initial 22 – but it’s not bad when you can bring in a player of his quality when injuries hit

Maguire is a good ( sometimes excellent ) club player but as an individual he has been tried and repeatedly failed at international level. Even if he's a 'back-up' it's a mistake to put him in the squad. Myler would make a better back-up and would learn something for the future - of which he has a lot more than does Maguire.

I love arguments that say "if X player didn't have Y talent he'd be average" yes you're right but he does so mute point.

If Foster didn't kick goals he'd be an average Winger....but he does kick goals so mute point
If McGuire/Myler weren't the best supporting players....
If Briscoe didn't break tackles
If Sam didn't have his side step

I could go on, it must be the daftest argument when discussing players you can come up with.

Following Saturday, I'm more inclined than ever to play Sinfield at 7 alongside someone like Widdop or Chase at 6.
He may be a little pedestrian when taking the line on, but in terms of engineering a win under pressure, he's second to none in our league. He also has a great long kicking game.

In the past, we've put him in at 13 a longside 2 half backs and things haven't particluary worked, we've tried him at hooker where I wasn't particulary impressed.

His strength is playing at 1st receiver and directing play with a brains and patience, which is what we want, and have consistantly lacked for years.

The thing is with Sinfield you have to let him play the role he does for Leeds, let him do the controlling of the game and he will play well, this happened a few years back when he was outstanding throughout the whole series.

Either let him so what he does best or don't play him IMO.

He should, again IMO, be captain.

Sinfield will never control an International game like he can in SL. Harsh, but true.

Completely agree with this. I have said many time that it is a strange situation for Sinfield to be captain of Leeds and then a Leeds team mate to be captain of England

With Sinfield, his strength is in the complete package – he is a very good player in his own right but he is also an outstanding captain who can boss a game – if he is world class, it is because of this complete package

We don’t know if he can boss an international match but we have never had a chance to find out

With Sinfield, he should either be captain of England and told by the coach ‘you are the leader and decision maker’ or left out altogether as we have better options in individual positions

I think we missed a trick not making Sinfield the England captain 4 or 5 years ago and it is also unfair to expect Sinfield to replicate his Leeds form for England when he is not allowed to be the leader and decision maker

You may well be right, but that doesn't mean he isn't the best we've got to do it.
We need field position from good long kicks, we need a cool head, we need guidence, smart distribution, ability to stick to a game plan and patience. He offers that range of skills better than any other english halfback.

In all the interviews with rugby players i've heard Sinfield always comes across as the brightest, he sounds like a lad that would have gone to uni and done well for himself if he hadn't played pro rugby.
He also thinks on the field and maybe making him captain would elevate his game.

It might not work. It may turn out that he doesn't offer enough threat with ball in hand, but the simple fact is that imo he's the biggest single factor in Leeds having beaten my club in 4 of the last 5 GFs.

It may not be seen to work because we get beaten in the forwards, in which case people will blindly suggest it was a flawed idea.

He already has! 2009 4 nations he was fantastic, and this was because Tony Smith let him play his natural game, albeit from 9!

I think it's a moot point.

I’m pretty sure that we all understood the context of the post so whether it is a mute point or a moot point really is a moot point

Kevin Sinfield did go to university, graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2008 with a BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science degree whilst playing professional rugby league.

I thought it was a [imoo[/i point.
You know, like a cow's opinion; it doesn't matter.

[iThis whole point.....is moo.[/i

Quote ="Horatio Yed"In all the interviews with rugby players i've heard Sinfield always comes across as the brightest, he sounds like a lad that would have gone to uni and done well for himself if he hadn't played pro rugby. He also thinks on the field and maybe making him captain would elevate his game.'" www.leedsmet.ac.uk/graduation/su ... 02AE35.htm Thought I saw a piece about him in the Leeds Met prospectus a couple of years back when one of my kids was applying for uni, backs up the impression you have got from him.

Quote ="Horatio Yed"In all the interviews with rugby players i've heard Sinfield always comes across as the brightest, he sounds like a lad that would have gone to uni and done well for himself if he hadn't played pro rugby. He also thinks on the field and maybe making him captain would elevate his game.'" www.leedsmet.ac.uk/graduation/su ... 02AE35.htm Thought I saw a piece about him in the Leeds Met prospectus a couple of years back when one of my kids was applying for uni, backs up the impression you have got from him.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan graduated on the same day... not sure that backs up the impression we have got of him! (but good on him and Diskin and Poching also)

moot mute, point stands

Think you might be on to something there. Most of the Leeds fans I work with consider Sinfield to be by far the most important player at their club and the majority of big games I've seen would back that up.

As a Cas fan, as much as I rate Rangi Chase I agree he is not an organiser type half back, instead he offers that X factor that can break a game wide open.

Reckon a half back pairing of Sinfield and Chase might be ideal, or start Mossop and bring Chase off the bench to cause havoc after the opposition has started to slow down a bit.

The key thing is that McNamara tries these combinations out in the warm up game(s). Unfortunately though I'm not sure that he will....

wow, you really know your stuff.

You mean Widdop, otherwise you have some pretty radical ideas?