Time to apply some perspective to the career of Keith Senior.

Was he the best 'British' centre at Leeds during the SL era? YES. Brad Godden was better but he was Australian.

Was he the best 'British' centre during the SL era? Arguably YES, on the basis of his longevity during the SL era, along with his consistency and injury-free record. Connolly and Newlove were better centres but their careers were split between pre-SL and SL era's so I'm prepared to discount them.

Was he the best centre in the Leeds Blue & Amber ever? NO. Of those I've seen, Hynes, Dyl, Currie, Innes, Godden, Iro (when he could be bothered), Gibson, Bell, Stephenson, Schofield, Cunningham were all better centres.

Senior's assets were his strength and his unrefined, no frills, biff and barge approach in attack along with his injury-free record of appearances. His liabilities were his lack of refined skills, average passing ability, his dodgy 'turn your back' defensive technique and his reluctance to take any responsibility under pressure from a high ball.

In a SL era characterised by dross (particularly in the backs), Senior has at least stood at the top of the British pile for over a decade. Good luck to him in his future endeavours... he's earned it.

Are you talking Dean Bell who had one season in 83-84? Creasser was better that year. That was the pre-NRL Dean Bell. Senior was also better than Carl Gibson in the centres for Leeds at least. You're also seriously downplaying his big game performances for Leeds (way better than Iro who unfortunatley seemed to be bothered about once every 4 games), and the fact that at his peak the Aussies did actually rate him. His biggest deficiency for me was defence at international level - he never looked comfortable unless someone ran straight at him. Any kind of movement or question over which player to go for and he looked stranded. He certainly never looked a natural in the way Schofield did. Having said that, as far as Leeds goes, for longevity and his record, he is right up there with the best we've had.

OK, here goes:

(deep breath...)

Best British centre of the SL era? Unquestionably. Period.

Second best Leeds Centre of the SL era after the so-under-rated (by too many) Godden.

PROBABLY, with Cunningham, the stand-out British player of the SL era. Anyone want to make an issue of it? Lowes and Farrell maybe? No way - Senior outlasted the lot of them. Easily the stand-out.

Biggest invisible man in the history of the game?

Without a doubt. He wrote the book on it.

Sneakiest sod of the modern era?

Oh yes. And how.

Resent him for it?

Bloody hard to resent a total professional, very good at what he does. Would love to say I hate the barsteward; but I would be telling fibs.

Only Scott Naylor ever got his measure and had him in his pocket.

And yes, superb player. Anyone who says they do not wish he had played for them is either telling fibs or not wired up right.

You will miss him.

When he finally hangs up his boots, so will the game.



And you all heard me say all that.

What do you mean by invisible?

Without doubt. Just a shame he went on a season too long.

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 025258.stm

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 025258.stm

IMO Senior's best season was either 2002 or 2003. In those days (certainly the former) he was probably our best player, and had the habit of breaking down the left flank and usually had the pace to go all the way. I don't think he ever fully recovered from that injury against the Bulls on the eve of the 2005 CC final (and should not have been allowed to play in that game) but he did seem to recapture some form as a provider for Ryan Hall in the triple champions period.

I'd agree with that. 2002 was his best for me. He was unplayable at times, shame much of the rest of the team weren't close to his level

I've seen 2 better centres I my life time at leeds so can't agree on that! But awesome awesome player for Leeds and a true rhino legend! Best centre of sl era!

Just for the record schofield by a mile and Peter Jackson played for Leeds in his prime and is classed as one of the very best in Auz!

Peter Jackson? Agree re Iro

I think he means Senior's penchant for "blocking" defenders.

Did Sweetcorn say David Stephenson was a better centre than Senior ??

Well, I also saw most of the ones mentioned. Some were better than Senior in some aspects of the game. Most weren't.

I'd take the overall game, longevity, achievements and contribution to Leeds Rugby League made by Keith Senior above any of them.

peter jackson played, what, 25-20 games for Leeds? How many were at centre? He played a fair few at stand off.

Schofield's best Leeds displays were stand off. He did give some masterful GB displays at centre (and stand off).

IMO, vernon's last sentence in the previous post sums it up for me.

If we are talking service and contribution over a period of time senior is up there with any player at any club. But Jackson and schofield were both better centres for me. Personally I didn't think much of Schoey as a 6! I would argue till the cows come home he was a much better 3/4 than a 5/8