Firstly I don't think we'll ever be able to replace him with a like for like. I'm not sure there are many players that can tick all those boxes, but I would replace kicking game with leadership/motivating. I think our kicking game did revolve around him and McGuire/Burrow. Our kicking game has looked pretty decent without him. I'm sure a few kicks have come from Watkins and Moon, which isn't ideal but adds an unpredictable element. The last few years our kicking game has been a bit on off at times. Even against weaker fullbacks the kick has seemed to go straight to them and Sinfield has been guilty of a few of those. Debatably it could come from the control/position the forwards were offering.

Ratchford, M.Smith, Brough, Walsh and Gale from SL could tick the boxes, but questionable on the leadership department that Sinfield offers. All would come with a price tag as well. If McGuire isn't resigned then someone of that calibre needs to be signed.

I think if you're looking at the goalkicking department. I'm sure there was an article where Sinfield said he learnt a lot Van Straaten when he as at the Tykes. Obviously only so much can be added to natural ability, but I don't think Sinfield became the main kicker until 2003ish when he was like 23-24? Sutcliffe is only 20 and seems to have good ability so far. I'm sure he'll still have Sinny to learn off and they could always bring someone in to mentor him.

With regards to the last tackle kicks. All are options can kick well....we've seen that before. The problem lies with slow PTB's and uncrisp passing from dummy half. So often the kicker is left with a defender just a few metres from his face and pressuring the kick (often why we spread to the centres to kick).

I don't think enough thought goes into the previous play and which player makes the carry and thus could potentially make the quicker PTB. For all of Peacock's quality and career at Leeds, he can be painfully slow getting up to PTB, so having him take the previous carry in before a kick isn't the best idea.

I think you have misread my post mate, or maybe I wasn't clear enough. I wasn't saying you are just looking for a player who could do those things, I was saying you need a player who is quality doing those things in ADDITION to been a top quality player also. That is where replacing becomes harder than just looking at your youth.

One thing Widdop is he is a very good goal kicker today he converted from everywhere.

Marshall provided the real quality and he the Dragon's go to man. My view is Widdop doesn't take the line on enough and if we are building a team around him we need more than he offers.

If Widdop wasn't in the NRL I'm not sure he'd receive the admiration he receives. Whenever he's played for England he's looked bang average to me.

I've not been overally convinced by Widdop in terms of England, but like Sinfield before him he's never really been given a full on full crack at being a key player at International level during his earlier years.

And TBF how many SL halfbacks would excel at NRL and International level. There's a reason why the likes of Luke Walsh, Albert Kelly, Terry Campese and Travis Burns aren't in the NRL.....yet they look more than good enough here in SL.

I mean look at Cuthbertson, hardly heard of him over here when in the NRL.....several games over here and people are talking him up to get in the England team and being one of our best overseas signings. Basically you shouldn't judge players too strongly on how they go in the NRL, because the SL isn't as good so therefore they'll probably do better if they come wih the right attitude to play. Widdop at NRL and International level may not convince everyone.....at SL level though I'm pretty certain he'd be head and shoulders one of the better players in the competition.

bang on.

He's obviously a good player, you don't play 100 NRL games in the halves if you don't have something about you but, I'm not sure his ability warrants the £300k a season salary being talked about. If we're going to be spending that, and I have no idea if we are then we should go for someone at the elite level like Thurston or Cronk for a couple of years.

not sure where the 350k comes from as Sinny and J.P only earn around half that so can't see wage structure being changed so dramatically

sorry meant 300k

Widdop would be a very good signing but i can't see it.

I've been told at the game today that while in aus GH put an offer on the table to Widdop and he is seriously considering it. This has come from someone who knows Gareth's dad and goes into the his amateur club in Halifax. I know its he said she said but it has come from a very credible source.

He's on 350k (AD) at St George apparently which is about £200k(?) So you'd assume if Leeds were going to sign him then we'd have to be offering him more than he'll be on in the NRL.

Just shy of £184K. If he wants to return home anyway, a salary match or maybe a boost up to £200K should get the deal done? From what I've seen on the box, the cost of living is higher in Aus than the UK. For mine the question is why would he want to give up the Aus lifestyle, for sunny West Yorks. If he has his reasons for wanting to return, Leeds ought to be an attractive option.

A lot of it depends on this rumour that Widdop would like to return to England. If true then depending on how determined he is to return to England then guessing the wage he'll accept is just random guess work by posters.