Let's face it Sinfield has been pretty poor most of this season and for large parts last season.
Just because he has been left out he is Mr Fantastic again.
Like I said earlier and Rhinoms has just said his leadership and goal kicking are second to none.
And because we do not have a backup hooker until Ward is fit we stick with Burrow who has been pish poor whenever he has played.
This and only this is why Sinfield should be on the bench to give Aiton a rest.
Sutcliffe needs to take hold of the game more he has enough game time to do this now.
We should have spared Cuthbertson last week as he looks knackered.
But our coach is seemingly going for the record of using fewer players than anyone else in a season.
Whatever happens he will stick to his favourites even if they are playing badly.

True about his form but that was as a starting 80 minutes HB who'd not had a decent break for a few years with International duty at the end of the seasons. A slightly reduced role of loose/hooker/sub in a game is a different matter. I think a large part of Sinfield's on field struggles came from his workload. Going by his last real showing at Saints away (vs Wire the horse had already bolted by the time he'd come on) then he did ok coming off the bench, the only sub that did that night. Nothing special but did a job.




I believe Robbie Ward has been back playing now for the u19's for the last couple of games? Now if McDermott was picking him as the sub hooker then fair play to leave Sinfield out on the basis on moving forwards with new players. But that Burrow is making the 17 and not playing much or contributing much apart from the odd game (Catalans away) then really Sinfield should be in ahead of him.

Btw if Sinfield isn't being played because he's leaving. If Burrow is getting picked ahead of him does it mean that the club expect him to be here next year and not Cas? If those rumours were true then why's he making the bench above Sinfield and Ward?



I thought Sinfield and Burrow were his favourites I've heard that for years on here??? Now they can barely get a game stuck behind Sutcliffe and Aiton and he's reluctant to take Stevie Ward off during games which means either Delaney or Ablett may get less minutes at 2nd row when all fit.

So when he drops his favourites for the ones who had to play 2nd fiddle previously, it's really because those previously 2nd fiddle players are his favourites???

Agree with the idea Sinfield should be spared and played at hooker along with Aiton Printer.
Clearly he does not rate Robbie Ward or so it seems otherwise he would have him on the bench.
With regards to his favourites it seems that once Sinfield said he was leaving at the end of the year.
McDermott acted like a jilted partner threw his teddy out of the pram and
decided not to pick him anymore.
Burrow it seems is still one of his favourites.
There is no other reason why he is getting in the 17 ahead of Sinfield.
And yes he should have taken Steve Ward off when injured against Warrington when the game was out of reach.

Picked him twice to start vs Wakey and Salford when he was fit again (his departure was announced whilst he was out injured. Sutcliffe even dropped to the bench in the latter game and as I mentioned previously he played a good role in the Saints game from the bench and took over goalkicking duties. Only when the cup draw was made was Sinfield withdrawn from action.

And simply going by how often they've spoken about how much they respect each other and that Sinfield had the right to call it quits whenever providing he did so very early in the year and for what he's done for this club, I really don't think McDermott begrudges Sinfield deciding he wants to call it a day at the end of this season. He will have known it would've been this year or next anyway for a while now.

As for Burrow he's still in the 17 but quite a few times his introduction has almost been a token gesture getting quite late on in the game (also dropped for two games himself at the start of the season like Sinfield has just been). Had Robbie Ward not gotten himself injured and only just returned it would've been interesting to see if he'd have gotten a game already.

I can see how it's possible, but it will need significantly improved performances from the ones delivered at home to Warrington, in the second half at Huddersfield and away at Widnes. Keep up that level of performance and Wakefield apart there aren't many teams in the competition who won't fancy playing Leeds - whether that's at home or away.

On current form I would, wouldn't you?

They certainly do.

Good thread this by the way. Look forward to the usual pessimists & knee jerkers resurrecting it a week before the next round of the cup, when we inevitably lose again.

I'm looking forward to it too. Tried telling people that the focus (just like last year) and Sinfield went as soon as the cup draw was made but some just wouldn't have it. Just like last year when the cup game came we transformed for those wins. Apparently tiredness and players playing too many games was a key reason why we started to hit some poor performances.......they didn't look too tired today did they those same players who had 2 days less than the Hudds players. As well as us having a soft belly and teams figuring it out and Hudds were going to learn that and start better than the two previous meetings.

Good to see Sinfield and McDermott have settled their differences that led to them falling out and him not getting picked

I've been a big macdermott critic but, a couple of games apart, he's impressed me this year. It's the most structured we've been since possibly murrays side. We have real shape to our play. Big decisions have had to be made and he's had the balls to make them

mac must be doing something right if you're giving him praise tad rhino,but it's good that you're not too shy in giving due praise

do you think that mac could be the man to take the club forward to start the clubs next generation?
i think that mac is definitely strong enough to keep evolving our side and make the tough calls that are required to keep us successful,i think that he is also growing into this coaching role and is getting the best from his squad after most coaches have passed there sell by date of 4 years at the helm

I say what I think mate. I don't have agendas and yes, I'd be happy if he stayed on

respect pal

Still need at least 1 FT Ass imo plus who we sign and how he handles the next transition will determine how much longer he stays imo A Coach can only go so far and so long at 1 Club imo even Wayne Bennett went stale at Brisbane for e.g.
I also don't like the token 5 minute sub stints or playing with 16 men be interesting to see how we go now with the Cup on the back-burner till the end of june.