Congratulations Danny Brough and Paul Anderson and other Winners.

I wouldn't argue with the two incumbents, Burrow and Sinfield. They've both had injury problems but have come back OK and you pretty much know what you're going to get with them. They also come with the added advantage of being a club pairing, which means they already know each other's game. With the sort of pack we seem to be putting together they have the class to really dominate games imo.

I'd definitely have Gareth Widdop in front of Brough too.

But that's the accusation laid at all great players; if their team isn't dominant it's their fault. When mediocre players are mediocre it's because the forwards haven't laid the platform. Brough is only playing 6 to accommodate Robinson at 7, Brough is the best scrum half in this country by a million miles. If O'Loughlin is fit I presume Sinfield will be 6, with Chase at 7, though I'm not sure where Widdop fits into that equation.

I like Burrow(pace) and Sinfield(vision-kicking game),but I am a great believer in playing half backs at half back,so Sinfield would be loose forward in my team.But I am afraid I would still put an in form Danny Brough at half back as he adds zip/pace/vision/kicking game to the middle of the park and we have had years of playing our loose forward at stand off against the Aussies and it hasn't worked then,so why should it work now as we lose PACE in the middle by following that route.We should be able to compete up front with such as the Burgess's playing regular NRL week in week out and we have Tomkins steaming in from full back so IMO we need regular half backs to knit this lot together and Brough would have been great.To not even be in the squad is a HUGE mistake imo.I just hope we ain't counting the cost later on in then tournament.

You're a great believer in playing half backs at half back, so you'd play a half back at Loose Forward? That makes sense.


This argument that Sinfield is a loose forward hasn't held water for ages. He's played 6 for Leeds for years now. In fact, it's probably a long time since he's even played loose forward. And yet those who say he shouldn't be picked out of position, all want him playing there. Think more people need to pay attention to where people actually play at club level rather than just the number on their back.

Incorrect,

where do you think Danny Maguire has been playing?Sinfield plays stand off when Maguire has been injured.Sinfield always was a loose forward first and foremost.IMO he hasn't the speed to play at Test stand off.

Danny McGuire plays at 7 (although 6 and 7 are essentially interchangeable these days), so Sinfield & McGuire play both really. Rob Burrow plays hooker almost every week (at least when everyone is fit anyway).

Sinfield has played a little hooker this year, but only a little (while Sutcliffe was in the halves with Burrow). He has played absolutely no loose forward. HTH.

Just because I enjoy proving people wrong when they say I'm "Incorrect", I've just had a look at Leeds' starting line ups for this season.

Danny McGuire has played in 23 out of 33 competitive games. All 23 of those, he was named at Scrum Half.

Rob Burrow has only missed the one game this year. He has played 10 games at Scrum Half, and 22 at Hooker.
Coincidentally, every single one of the games he played at 7, was when Danny McGuire was injured and not playing.

Kevin Sinfield has played in 28 out of 33 games. 3 of them were at Hooker. 25 of them were at Stand Off. Absolutely Sweet F.A. of them were at Loose Forward.

That combination of Sinfield at 6, McGuire at 7 and Burrow at 9 was also the lineup for both Leeds' games against us this year. You obviously didn't notice.

Just hang on,I thought you meant where they actually played when the game started,sweet fa to do with where they were named before the game .Of the games I have watched Maguire took the stand offs role in most attacks and Sinfield was where I would expect a loose forward to be and in defence Sinfield tackled as a forward not a back.

What are you on about?

It doesn't really matter where a specific player is named on the team sheet IMO. Sinfield may be picked at stand off, scrum half or loose forward but his role is the same - to guide the team around the pitch and provide composure and leadership. I guess McBanana wants him to do the same for England. Chase is there to run a bit wider and link up with Tomkins. Same applies to Widdop if he gets picked.

Brough isn't as devastating a wide runner as Chase or Widdop so he's up against Sinfield IMO. Is he a better leader? Is he more composed? More reliable under pressure? I don't think he is. He may be better in other areas but I reckon McBanana has gone for Sinfield because of he provides the things in the middle that Brough isn't as strong at and complements the rest of the team.

Watch Sinfield get picked at hooker now to explode this theory into smithereens!

I was thinking that, but Roby needs maximum game time to be effective. I think McIlorum is massively overrated; he has a big physical game & nowt else, I expect him to be on for the first 20 to mix it a bit then hopefully removed from the field to allow Roby more space.