if he's going to play 9 and defend next to the winger making 3 tackles a game - who's going to make the 30 tackles you'd expect aiton to make???

You can't compare Sinfield to O'Loughlin size-wise in terms of playing at loose. O'Loughlin is significantly bigger and will have be conditioned with the plan of him playing there, whereas Sinfield hasn't for several years now. And it's one thing for him to play there in a few games, can he honestly do it for the next 20 weeks or so?

A bit extreme as well to say Sutcliffe and McGuire are un-droppable in McDermott's eyes in terms of bringing Sinfield back in. It's been all of 2 games he's not been picked for (the way some are going on you'd think it had been 10 games). He didn't pick Burrow at the start of the year for the grand total of TWO games....he's been back in the side ever since. It was also only a few weeks back everyone was full of praise for Sutcliffe and McGuire so why would they have been dropped before today's game? A poor game against Wire and disappointing 2nd half vs Hudds for the whole team and the halves should be dropped even though they were playing behind forwards who were losing the battle?

True and I think Burrow is the one who should make way for Sinfield to return to the 17. However whilst my plan would see Sinfield do a stint at hooker, Aiton has played well enough that it's been right for him to be out there for about 60 mins a game sometimes. Would be a waste just to have Sinfield on the bench just for a 20 minute cameo at hooker (I know their's an argument that it's a waste to pick Burrow for that same reason which I agree with, but it doesn't mean we should repeat the trick with Sinfield) so for me if he's in the 17, whether starting or not then he has to do a decent sized stint at loose forward defending in the middle.

This one.

Sinfield not big enough for 13, don't make me laugh. Suppose Burrow's not big enough for SL either? If he doesn't play next week it's clear there is a personal clash.

Sinfield is a stone lighter than when he last played there, also most teams playing an extra big guy at loose running in the middle of the pitch. Factor in his age and also it's usually harder and longer for guys to recover from games in the days afterward.

Could he have played at loose today....yes

Could he have played at loose today, then next week vs Hudds, and then vs Wigan in a few weeks, and the week after that, then the next week and so on.....that's a different matter.

The guy himself has admitted in the past that he couldn't keep playing loose forward anymore for size reasons, and I reckon he knows what his body is capable of most.

I don't think their's been any sort of clash as why pick him in the original 19 man squad if you have no intention of picking him at all.

Well something has to change. The bigger blokes we play at 13 aren't doing the job required of them, so Sinny wouldn't do any worse imo. We looked like a rudder-less ship yesterday, a clear indication that we need our captain back. Whether it's at 13 or 6 (with Sutcliffe 13) doesn't really matter. Gives us a decent goal kicker too. The days of our pack blasting it's way through the middle are long gone, so we'll never compete in that way - the Widnes pack took ours apart ffs!!! We need guile and Sinny has that in bucket loads.

If he is fit he has to play, particularly after the shananigins of the past couple of weeks.He is the only option of a half decent kicking game in the current squad,and something has to be done to relieve the pressure on busted pensioner pack,in my view.

For mine, it doesn't matter where we play him. For me, the important thing is we should play him somewhere. Whatever his deficiencies may or may not be in any given position, our need for his game management and leadership skills eclipses those considerations. We know we have to find a replacement for those skills for next season and I hope that the sleeve has that requirement at the top of his to do list alongside replacement props. But what we have seen over the last 3 games and in others before that, is that those skills can not be fully replicated from with in the current squad [uYET[/u.

I am sure the potential is there to replace Sinfield, but for now, we don't need to force the issue. Let's utilise his ability as an organiser and leader on the field, whilst we still can. The reality of not having those skills available next season needs to be addressed and a replacement, from within or without, identified. But there is time to do that.

Sinfield at 13, he doesn't have to play the full 80 but should be a starter

sinny will start on saturday

A bit like the Castleford home game last season and the final play against Catalans in the play offs. It wasn't all great when Sinfield was captain and leader last season. IIRC he was also the captain and leader against Warrington away who threw the interception pass? So on here need to take their rose tinted glasses off - Sinfield 2015 isn't Sinfield 2010 and the idea that the only thing stopping us winning games is his participation is bonkers.

Although I completely agree with what you've said here Sal, I think you're missing the point of many, I don't for one minute believe the majority want sinfield in the team for his playing ability, it's more his onfield management/organisation, which is without doubt, what we missed yesterday and for that second half against Huddersfield.

They just didn't seem fired up yesterday and lacked a bit of effort at times to be honest, if we're not going to be organised or make the right decisions with sinfield not on the pitch at pivotal points in games, the least we need is a bit more hunger and hardwork, which isn't coming IMO

Ridiculous post. I can't remember us ever going unbeaten for a season, with KS playing a perfect game every week, in the past either.
I can remember us winning 6 GFs plus the challenge cup, LLS and WCC on more than one occasion under his leadership though.

When the team were playing very well I'd imagine they didn't need Sinfield's leadership. Now they certainly do, not even mentioning his goal kicking.

I've heard said "we need to learn to play without him". Well, aside from the fact that we don't, he's a Rhinos player the rest of this year and 2015 is not a dress rehearsal for 2016, don't we need to learn to play without Peacock?

It's lunacy that he isn't in the 13 (forget the bench) if he's fit. He's needed, fairly desperatley given the last few performances.

Could not have put it better myself.

Let's hope McDermott is man enough to swallow his stubborn pride

You have missed my point - I have given you three examples of his on-field game management, all three incidents were situations that were completely within his control and he didn't make the correct decision. The idea that when he returns he will be Sinfield circa 2010 isn't born out by the evidence on the field. Less said about the WC semi final the better.

Do you honestly think his being on the field is going to change the attitude and quality of play of the likes of Peacock, Burrow, Handley, Aiton, Singleton, Achurch - seriously?

Come on Sal, No one has claimed that he plays the perfect game or that he doesn't make mistakes. What many of us argue is that whilst he is still a Rhinos player we should utilise his game management and leadership skills. Whilst recognising that he is not as sharp as he was a few years back, I still believe that on balance we are a better team with him in the 17.

Bit harsh blaming him for Tom Briscoe's backside falling out against Catalans.

Errrrm sal.......... Two of those examples we're playing errors, not the game management/leadership/organisational skills 90% of us are talking about.

Sutty also seems to have a better run of form when he's been left out for a couple of games too, which is another reason I'd be bringing sinfield back in for at least a couple if weeks. Look at it this way, we keep things as they are and carry on loosing, or we do what the fans seem to want and being sinfield back in and if we lose then still, the fans got it wrong and there can be no complaints.

So Sinfield is being cast aside to 'move on'.

When will JP be getting the same treatment?

I would suggest throwing a pass on your own line with a minute to go wasn't great game management?

No they are examples of very poor decision making there is a huge difference between a missed tackle and a seriously dumb play in the dying seconds of a knock out game

Considering it was McGuires dumb play that put us in the position at the end in that Catalans game, are you now writing him off too Sal?