Sinfield should be starting all day every day for this game. He isn’t a kid anymore, he’s 20 in a few months and needs game time ahead of an abject signing that puts his own team under so much pressure. Frawley’s only benefit compared to Sinfield is he may be bigger and have the edge in defence, but every Leeds player will be having to defend better and for longer with Frawley in the team. Picking Sinfield wouldn’t be a brave decision from Smith, it would just be the right decision. If we lose with Frawley in the team and he plays as bad as he usually does, then Smith deserves to get all the flak that comes his way. I’m not saying he gets a free pass for a loss if he picks Sinfield, but at least he’s shown some ambition which is what most fans want to see. The other unlikely scenario is that we beat Saints with Frawley in the team and Smith metaphorically gives the dissenting Leeds fans the big middle finger. We all know that is most unlikely.

Not sure what Sinfield has done to justify being a starter; if anything it is more a comment about discontent with Frawley.

Frawley is a more conservative pick for his defensive qualities. Sinfield probably has a better kicking game and likes to take on the line a bit more, but he's not exactly blessed with a pacey running game either. He's hardly the mercurial talent demanding to be picked in the way someone like Danny McGuire was. And he seems to lack the physical presence of his father, who was not big by RL standards. Let's not put too much pressure on him too soon. There are plenty of 'winnable' games coming up (as members of this forum like to predict in advance) that would be less pressured environments to bring in Sinfield. His long-term development comes before the desire of some fans to 'bin off' Frawley.

That said, Pete Smith expects Sinfield to start according to his predicted 17 for the game so maybe RS and GH tipped him off as the club's media mouthpiece

Frawley being a better defender I think is a fallacy.

I think it's so hard to say what people's opinion on Sinfield would be without his surname. Would he have the same hype? I honestly have no idea. He seems to be ahead of the reserves, but as others have pointed out isn't the next Danny Mags.

He could grow into a proper scrum half, but does seem a bit small and a bit slow... There's clearly too much expectation put on him which he's unfair. It seems like the club see him as a future club legend, but to me the jury is still out whether he'll make it as a regular decent SL player.

I think it's so hard to say what people's opinion on Sinfield would be without his surname. Would he have the same hype? I honestly have no idea. He seems to be ahead of the reserves, but as others have pointed out isn't the next Danny Mags.

He could grow into a proper scrum half, but does seem a bit small and a bit slow... There's clearly too much expectation put on him which he's unfair. It seems like the club see him as a future club legend, but to me the jury is still out whether he'll make it as a regular decent SL player.

If Sinfield plays i hope gets the opportunity to dictate play without Cameron Smith taking over. His best game so far was against Cas last season when Smith didnt play.

Sinfield, Ruan and McCormack have been named in the Halifax 21 for this week. Time for the Frawley redemption arc to start.

What's your evidence?

Whether RS picks Sinfield or Frawley, neither are probably at the right standard (yet) for a real top side. Swings and roundabouts over who is best, I would probably go Frawley for this one but give field kicking to Croft.

If Sinfield is picked then it's looking bleak for Frawley for the rest of the year you would say.

I think we'll miss Holroyd today, we're probably just a few key players too few tonight but we could jag the win if we get some luck and manage to play tight for a change.

I think the decision to play Frawley instead of Sinfield is getting blown out of proportion to be honest.


Like a lot of things it seems this season.

Rohanout hashtags started already before the game kicks off.

Im going over tonight but if the crowd is toxic and abusive, I’ll probably give away games a miss from now on, it’s not really a pleasant way to spend two hours.

Despite it being dry today it’s ed it down all week and with the women’s game being in before pitch could be pretty poor.

M62 is at a standstill aswell so if anyone is going set off as early as possible

I think it's a poor decision. Mainly because Sinfield was clearly better than Frawley in the Catalans game, and also had a good game when was Frawley was dropped the week before.That said, I'm going tonight and I hope that he scores a hat trick and wins man of the match. No time for the keyboard warriors/trolls or the boozed up eejats who attend in the hope of spoiling it for others.

With Ruan and Sinfield likely to play for Fax this weekend.
Does this mean we could have 2 hookers on the bench?

I would have picked Sinfield too, I just don’t think this game hinges on that decision, nor is it an overly controversial decision.

It’s each to their own regarding the fans and what the shout/sing, just gets to the point where i don’t want to be near or part of it.

Weve been pretty poor (and much worse position than we are now) on and off for the last 6 years but I've never known it be so toxic.

No because Johnson is in the Fax squad too, I’ve got a feeling TNW might be on the bench

Maybe that’s the reason? The cumulative effect of 7 seasons of never ending rebuilding and talk by every new coach/caretaker coach coming in and talking about the toxic environment in the club and having to ‘refind the Rhinos DNA’ and Lots of fans frustrated/annoyed by the Groundhog Day feel of it all??

I reckon Sinfield will be off to kick n clap before too long. Cannot see him wanting to play in championship when the guy in front of him is league 1 std

I reckon he'll see the bigger picture.He will have known he's back up for the next 12 maybe 18 months.He is still only 19.

There is absolutely nothing to be gained by playing Frawley tonight. Why play possibly the weakest player in the squad when you have a better alternative with potential. The only way we will find out what Sinfield is capable of is by playing him on a regular basis against the teams he will hopefully be playing against for a good few years in a Leeds shirt. What is the point of leaving us guessing what might be with Jack when someone as poor as Frawley is the alternative ? Sinfield is not a kid any more, he is nearly 20 years old. He’s probably got a bit more physical development, but judging by his body shape and the genetics of his dad what we currently see is more likely than not what we ultimately get. He’s not gonna gain a yard of speed, but he’s gonna gain that yard in his head by playing at the top level as soon as he can. Frawley is the polar opposite, unless Hetherington has a machine that can somehow remap Frawley’s brain, we have a 30 year old that is the finished article with no improvement possible. He ain’t getting any faster unless we get special dispensation for performance enhancing drugs, and unless he has surgery to remove the sides off his 50p shaped foot his kicking will be as dreadful as ever. What’s the big decision here, because I don’t see it.

I hope so as I was impressed from what I`ve seen of him.
Don`t think he`s big enough for prop just yet though.

Agree.
At nearly 20, if he is good enough, he should be playing regular first team and not just as a back up for injuries. Its not as if he is playing in the forwards which is far more physical for a young player to endure.

So Frawley gets the nod and we have centres playing centre tonight with Newman and Roberts in there.
Hoping Russell has a good game, fingers crossed.
TNW on the bench with Goudemand, Lisone and Ackers.
Let`s go.

Disappointing that Sinfield is not playing.
But at least the bench looks balanced.
Most sensible bench he's picked for ages.
Hopefully they all get decent minutes.

You're not SERIOUSLY expecting Rohan to use common sense and logic are you...?!?

Already seen fans wanting us to get hammered so Smith might get sacked.

It’s utterly bizarre imo