I've never really understood the misconception that Sinfield wasn't the most skillful. Sure, he didn't have much pace, but his passing, offloading and kicking games were at the elite level. He also had the brain and vision to utilise his skills.
In terms of who was the best LF, considering Sinfield and Sculthorpe played most of their best rugby at stand off, I'm not sure it's the right question to ask. I'm also pretty sure both of them would be playing in the halves if they come through now. Of the 3 Farrell would be the one most likely to have been a back rower, so I'd say he'd get my vote.

Paul Shorpe did not win the golden boot award, like Kevin Sinfield and Andy Farrell did

Wheres the continuous laff button.

Did he bollox most overrated player of all time,the only all time team list he would make is the 13 and captain of the all time flat-track bully team. The Aussies never rated him at any point ever.

It's still Hanley (whatever people may think about his personality).

It’s an interesting question because I can see and agree with people saying Farrell and Shorpe as better players but at the same time if you could go back in time and were offered either of them or Sinfield aged 16 to have a 20 year career at your club would you opt for them over Sinfield?

It all depends upon the time frame: 20 years? 30 years? 50 years?

20 years: 1. Paul Sculthorpe, 2. Kevin Sinfield.
30 years: 1. Ellery Hanley, 2. Paul Sculthorpe, 3. Kevin Sinfield
50 years: 1. Ellery Hanley, 2. Malcolm Reilly, 3. Paul Sculthorpe, 4. Kevin Sinfield.

Andy Farrell was a star at the club level but never shone in international games. Therefore he could never be considered great, let alone the best.

Farrell over Sinfield.

My top 3 over the 7 decades I have watched the English game. Mal Reilly, Ellery Hanley and Vince Karalius.

Ellery Hanley

Ellery may be the best player, but not the best Lf. Sculthorpe probably a better more skillful all round player, and had the size. Sinfield up there with the skill of Sculthorpe but a better leader game manager. Ellery was no game manager and had ltd all round passing kicking game.
Ellery was without doubt the most dangerous runner the game has ever seen. But he was never a classic loose forward. They played him there as it gave him the free reign/role rather than restricted at centre and never had the skill for a 6

The last paragraph just sums Sinfield up.totally agree.

Kevin Sinfield never won the Man of Steel award...Paul Sculthorpe is the only player in history to win it 2 years in a row.

Also, Sinfield won the Golden Boot in a year where England won an international series playing against France and Wales whereas Australia played a 1-off game vs NZ at the end of the season and nothing more so wasn't really much competition for it.

As for exploits in an international shirt, Sculthorpe will be remembered for the game at Huddersfield vs Australia when he pretty much single handedly took the game to the Aussies and beat them in one of the best performances I've ever seen from one of our players in an international shirt. Sinfield will be remembered for shooting out of the line and missing Shaun Johnson in a World Cup semi final to cost us a place in the final.

Sinfield was a great leader and brought a lot to the Leeds side...you can't disagree how important he was to their success and should be respected for his achievements. But as all round players, both Sculthorpe and Farrell were a lot better and performed better at international level.

1. Sculthorpe (though it pains me to say it!)
2. Farrell
3. O'Loughlin
4. Sinfield

Yep, the best this country has produced.

Not much to choose between them really. Farrell slightly better internationally but both were part of a poor era for GB/England.

Sculthorpe was as good as them both.

Hanley better than all three. Both domestically and internationally.

I don't think LF was eithers best position TBH. always thought Faz was a better no nonsense back row or prop and Sinfield had his best years at stand off for leeds.

If i had to pick as a LF i think Farrell was the better of the two. Hanley is the best in that position i have ever seen by a distance.

I would agree Sculthorpe was a better all round player, and if it was not for injuries would have been the best player in the world, yes he did have a couple of good games internationally, but also limped round a few international games and failed to show up more than a few times as well. as for Farrell, did absolutely nothing at international level whatsoever, should not have even been i the side for anywhere near as long as he was never mind captain. complete myth that he had a good international career ultimate flat track bully. People overlook Sinfields international career (another myth) just to suit here agenda. Sinfield was nominate for golden boot twice don't forget, King wally Lewis himself rated him very highly and voted for him twice for Golden boot. but he do not let the facts cloud your judgement.

None of the three can really say they had a good career internationally however Farrell and Sculthorpe were both in sides that beat Australia albeit in one off games. Farrell was instrumental in the GB win over Australia at Old Trafford in 97 - did that slip your mind?

Not sure Sinfield was ever in a side that beat the Aussies.

There's not much between them really but if I had to choose I'd go for Sculthorpe at loose forward.

Stick Steve Norton in there for that time frame and you might be taken seriously.

To be fair, Sinfield was a makeshift scrum half/hooker when we beat them at Huddersfield in 2001 (Long, Deacon, Cunnigham and Netwton were all injured, can't remember whether Briers, Martyn and Lowes were injured or just omitted). I suppose his versatility was therefore useful to us, as it has been throughout his career. He didn't really have a big game or anything though, Sculthorpe (also playing in the halves) was on fire.

Thanks for reminding me. I was sat right in front of Peacock when he scored.

That tour was when I saw my first live international! The second test at Bolton, that is

A neutral view;
Sinfield underrated
Farrell overrated
Sculthorpe miles better than both.

Had Sinfield been a bit quicker he would have always been a stand off, and he hardly played 13 in his last 5 years, so its a bit of a weird comparison. Sculthorpe really was best suited to 6 as well and no doubt would only have played there if he'd had a bit more pace. I think if either of them was an Aussie they would almost never have played in the forwards.

Of the three the only out-and-out forward was Farrell. I personally thought he played pretty well for GB, and all of them suffered from playing in a particularly bad era for us internationally. IIRC wasn't there at least one game where we picked a whole bunch of players who were loose forwards for their clubs but played across the park for GB?

Whilst my favourite loose forward (or should I say scariest to watch against Leeds) for a while was Knocker Norton, Ellery Hanley would have to be the best by a long way. He's the only British player in my years watching the game (going back to 81) who I would argue should be in a best 13 covering the whole era when including Aussies and Kiwis. He was a standout in a number of positions for GB and his tryscoring was phenomenal (whilst not an orthodox stand off 1984-85 he was incredible for Bradford). I don't think you can make a strong case for any other British player over the same era.