The time has come for G.H to tell us what the hell is going on , it is clear to me and many more Leeds fans i have spoken to that we are a far better side when Sir Kev is playing . Whether that be at stand off or loose forward matters not . Yes he is going at the end of the season but there are trophies up for grabs this year . Since the announcment of his decision to leave he has been treated appalingly and with disrespect by Mac and the club . Why on earth the presentation on his 500th appearance was not done before the kick off i will never know . Then suddenly he is no longer good enough to make the 17 whilst certain jokers are selected before him . If after todays shambles he is not Selected to start on Saturday (and knowing how pig headed Mac is that is possible) then maybe it is time to for a change to the coaching staff as it would be beyond belief .

Sinfield will play on Saturday for his goal kicking alone. He may well be better than Burrow - his inclusion before Sinfield is baffling, but for 18 months Sinfield's form has been patchy at best. The idea that he is suddenly going to be the 2010 Sinfield and turn everything around doesn't stand up to scrutiny based on his recent form.

There needs to be a transition and part of that is bringing youngsters on - let's not forget Sinfield headed up some pretty poor defeats last season every bit as bad as yesterday's if not worse.

Great post.

He has played about 65 minutes of rugby in how many weeks? if the club was planning on using him for a big game, surely you ensure he is match fit?

That means he has to play every week and how you get transition with the inclusion of such an iconic and dominant individual playing I am not sure. He is certainly worth his place before Burrow, Achurch etc

I'd see him playing in a similar way to how Buderus and Burrow operated at the end of 2011.

When Burrow came off the bench, it was often not to replace Buderus but with the Australian shifting into a loose-forward role defending in the middle unit.

I reckon you could start Sinfield at 9, then bring Aiton off the bench say after 20 minutes and have Sinfield operate in a similar way to how Buderus did. A few carries, but not as a pivot and defending in the middle third. Also means you've got him out there for his kicking game.

He can then take a breather at some point in the game if he needs to with one of the other back row options slotting in to that middle unit and doing a similar job.

Agree with this.
We do not need Sinfield at 6 or 13 but we could do with his captaincy and of course his kicking.
Hooker is probably the nearest we are going to get for this to happen.

Can you see him settling for this type of role? The idea is a good one not sure its implementable if that is such a word?

Buderus was able to operate in the forwards because he was able to hit hard and play at an intensity in defence that Sinfield can't match.

Completely agree with Sals first post and AG's idea.

Buderus's tackling technique was exceptional. Cut players down at the knees, rather than trying to smash them in the chest and turn it into a wrestle.

I reckon you could get 50 minutes a game of that out of Sinfield for the rest of the year. His longevity is no longer a Leeds Rhinos problem.

I think some posters are missing the point that is we are a far better side with Sinfield in the starting 13 than out of it and a great exageration that he has not been playing well , i am convinced we would have won the last two games if he had played especially at Widnes and it is amazing all this has happened after he decides to finish at the end of the year . I suggest if that had not been the case he would have still been leading us out every week . Next year is a different kettle of fish but for this we should be playing our best team and that means Sinfield at 6 or 13 and captain and goal kicker

Would it not seem a bit weird to you for Gary Hethrington to make a public statement on the coach's team selection policy?

It would to me.

Unfortunatley i do not see it as a coaches selection policy , there seems to be more to it than that

Based on what, exactly?

I don't entirely agree with it, but I can't see much reason to think that the coach is being told what to do with his team. I think in all probability, it's the succession that he has in mind. Nothing more sinister than that.

Statement required! You're damn right statement required! Lets make one on the pitch in the cup and stop moaning as if we actually have anything to moan about.

Christ bet Wakey fans find most of our lot pathetic.

It seems to me that something is/has gone on behind the scenes.

I simply don't buy that sinfield has had a lifelong ambition to play union, and if he did why he is settling for a second tier club that still involves a not insignificant daily commute with a youngish family.

I also don't buy the McD is stubborn and cutting him out cos he's leaving.

Legend though he is his performances have been on a consistent downward spiral. My guess is he was told he would be transitioning out for sutty. He didn't like it and has opted to leave. Thats triggered internal issues which is why he isn't featuring.

Good conspiracy theory huh...

I don't think he's upto it. He's been going downhill for a while and time waits for no man

He has stated in the past that he wouldn't mind trying Union. As for the club and travel. What RU Premiership would take him now as his age for 18 months? And how many of those are closer to Leeds than where he lives? Only Sale I believe.



Doesn't strike me as the type to sulk does Sinfield. After his departure was announced, he was picked to play vs Wakey and Salford (with Sutcliffe on the bench). He started on the bench in the next two but got good minutes vs Saints and in both games took over goal-kicking duties when out there. Even when he didn't get as many minutes vs Wire he was still immediately thrown the kicking tee when we got a try, not something you'd do as a coach if you had some issues with him leaving and was freezing him out.

Ever since the draw was made for the Cup he's barely be involved, think he's basically being wrapped up in cotton wool for that (if their really was anything more to it then why put him in the 19 man sqaud at all?). Don't forget he had hamstring trouble that ruled him out for several weeks and last year too he started to miss some as his body started to struggle. I think there's a good chance (and also why Sinfield decided to leave) is because he might possibly have gotten to the stage where he's struggling to play week upon week phyiscally.

GH's general attitude about fans concerns and LR's accountability to them on anything is summarised below------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------...........................................................................

We don't half get a raw deal, us Leeds fans. Terrible times.

You don't think that a player who has often spoken of a desire to have a go at Union reached a point last August where he had literally achieved everything he could possibly achieve at Leeds decided it was time to move on? And that having done so he managed to reach a deal with a RU club (a Premiership club was never going to take him) where he probably knows the coaches etc, and certainly knows the way to the stadium and training ground?

I also think we may be jumping the gun by assuming he's finished. He was out injured and Sutcliffe, who is his anointed successor was given a chance and played very well. Leeds have then had a couple of tricky games where things have not gone so well. Sutcliffe has to learn from those too, so to yank him out of the side at the first sign of trouble isn't in the longer term interests of he club. It doesn't mean Sinfield can't have his place back ever.

I think the whole thing is a bit of a non-story.

I would agree with that, there isn't a player in the Leeds squad who McDermott respects more. We have squad that contains a number of ageing players - perhaps the coach has learnt something from last year and is prepared to accept some losses now to improve matters at the back end of the season?

Imagine these people had been supporting Leeds in the 1980s. Imagine further if these people would have had internet access back then.

When the club chairman starts to make public statements to the fans about team selection we have bigger problems than team selection.