I keep reading the comments on intensity, and there are some things worth considering:
- If you had been knocking the hell out of your body on a weekly basis for at least the last ten years, wouldn't you have the odd off-day. I bet everyone here gives their utmost every day they are at work....not. I am not saying they do this purposely, but wouldn't you pick to have an off day in games that matter less.
- If you go back to 2004 we were by far the best team, without a doubt. Look how far ahead we were at the end of the season, scoring 70 points against top sides on a number of occassions. We have been spoilt and can't understand why we aren't still doing this. Likelhood is it will never happen again.
- Given our players have been around a long time, then opposition coaches will better understand how to nulify their positive play. It is only because they are so good that they can continue to win despite this.
- As the teams have limited numbers in their squads, I am pretty sure many of them play on with injuries whereas if they had a larger stronger squad they would take time off.

Stevo

Happy Sir Kevin Sinfield Day everyone.

And here's how it all started

Feb 9th 2003 vs Whitehaven, CC 4th Round at Headingley

Connolly
Calderwood - McKenna - Senior - Cummings
Dunemann - Burrow
McDonald - Diskin - Bailey
Furner - Adamson
Sinfield (C)

Feather - Dowes - Chev Walker - McGuire

SCORE 46 - 6

TRIES - Burrow (2), Connolly, Calderwood, McKenna, Cummings, McDonald, Furner, Sinfield
GOALS - 5 - Furner (seems strange now that Sinfield was back up kicker to start the season)

I notice only four of the famous five are in the team. Looking at my handbook, it shows JJB only making one start and 10 sub appearances that year, and only 4 stars and 12 subs in 2004.

When did he become an automatic choice?

Wasn't he badly injured end 2003?

I remember a time when I thought 'what does Tony Smith see in him, he is too small for a second rower'...ha, shows what I know.

Mixture of injuries and competition i believe. Out of the famous 5 he probably had the most competition in his position with the likes of Furner, Adamson, Ali, McKenna, Poching and Ellis all playing second row. Seem to recall him being brought on as a subsitute prop a bit in 04/05. In fact the subs bench of JJB/Poching/McGuire/Dunemann at the 2005 CC Final would suggest he was the replacement prop. As well as playing starting prop in the god awful CC Semi (Hudds) and Early Playoff (Wire) defeats of 2006. Seems he only became full on starting 2nd row week-in week-out in 2007 when we had Peacock and the newly acquired Leuluai to start at prop.

Good job we're not celebrating 10 years of the ordinary instead?

[uSinfield v Australia[/u
Oct 2000 - Lost 2-22
Nov 2001 - Won 20-12
Nov 2001 - Lost 12-40
Nov 2001 - Lost 8-28
---------------------------
Jul 2002 - Lost 10-64
Nov 2003 - Lost 20-23
Nov 2003 - Lost 12-18
Nov 2005 - Lost 6-20
Nov 2005 - Lost 14-26
Nov 2008 - Lost 4-52
Oct 2009 - Lost 16-26
Nov 2009 - Lost 16-46
Nov 2011 - Lost 20-36
Nov 2011 - Lost 8-30

LOL

I thought Sir Kev only picked up the England captaincy this year?

Just goes to show what I know hey?

I agree an honour indeed. Ten years of quality leadership. Well done SIR KEV no 13