Quote: ThePrinter "Yes but as has been pointed out its about the defending in the middle. McDermott put Handley in and put the likes of Duckworth and Minns in other times. He's been more than happy to play Stevie Ward at 2nd row when he's been fit over the year even when he looked to small to do the role asked of him and has played the likes of Keinhorst and Walters at 2nd.
However you think of Singleton having to bide his time for a few years, Mulhern now. McShane, Hood and Robbie Ward at hooker. It's surely the issue of whether they can hold their own physically in the middle when defending.'"
I would say these days Sinfield struggles in the middle - Saints exposed him twice in one move. Didn't he ask to be moved into the halves because he didn't want the tackling work of a forward? Hooker is the most demanding physical role in the team so why everyone is suddenly saying he is as good as a specialist hooker is beyond me.
The less said about his ponderous distribution the better. Stevie Wonder can see playing Sinfield at hooker is not working now the intensity has ramped up a bit. He is a quality half back/organiser the most important player in the team in that role moving him to hooker causes too much disruption. Just because McDermott picks him there doesn't make it right - everyone makes mistakes including the coach.