Quote: ThePrinter "A bit of an obsession on the VT about him not being fast enough for 6. That people think a quicker guy in one position is the answer to beating Australia is quite funny. If speed was king then riddle me how the 2 teams who contested both finals this year have Sinfield and Briers at 6?
For me Sinfield needs 2 things. Firstly no, he isn't going to produce an off-the-cuff bit of magic really so he needs the forward pack to give him something to work with. Against NZ last year and against Wigan and Wire the last 2 weeks he won MOM but his forward played great. Against Australia last year and Wire in the CC his forwards were 2nd best and can't produce anything.
Secondly, a halfback partner to suit him and that definitely ISN'T Rangi Chase! Don't watch enough NRL to know whether Widdop would suit him, so SL based options might be McGuire (obviously) or Myler who I wasn't sure about for a while in big games but he was Wire's best threat in the GF and he plays with a not-so-quick 6 every week at Warrington. Not really understood the fuss about Lomax at Saints. Would a Sinfield/Tomkins partnership work now that we have a genuine alternative at Fullback in Hardaker?'"
Agree with you. A successful team needs a creative player who can lead the team around the park supported by a fast and threatening, running style half back.
Your first creative style needs to be in the mould of Dobson, Briers, Sinfield, Lomax or Brough.
Whereas your running style halfback needs to be someone along the lines of Myler, Widdop, Tomkins, McGuire or Pryce.
The English creative half back would be between Sinfield, Lomax or Brough. Sinfield has shown he is the player to lead a team around the park and is the only real candidate for this role.
The English running halfback would be Widdop or Tomkins for me, depending upon whether they want to use Hardaker at full back or not.
Any half back will not be good enough if the pack is not going forwards. When people say Sinfield has had his chance at international level, who realistically would they bring in instead? Sinfield is a top rate goal kicker who controls a match excellently.