The thing is the Aussie vote is inevitably going to be more split than the British one, which will lead to this thing happening now and again, and I'm sure it's designed for that to happen, as the RLIF wanted to take the Golden Boot on board as theirs, but they wanted to change the way that it was voted for, but Harry Edgar in partucular and RLW wouldn't budge, so the RLIF set up their own award in 2008. Cam Smith won that one this year by the way.

Sinfield is an outstanding captain, great leader, excellent goal kicker and a good solid player. But best player in the world from Jan-Dec 2012? No way. This is a 'lifetime achievement' type of award, given for his success over the years - and before the hordes descend from Headingley, let me say he absolutely deserves it.

But in 2012 Leeds lost 11 regular season fixtures and the CC final. The whole campaign was pretty average for the most and Sinfield started to cement his reputation as a moaner (yes, I'm fully aware other players moan to refs as well - doesn't make Sinfield any less guilty). They were embarrassed at home against Wigan, barely showed up in the CC final and only an epic effort and run of form in the last 3 games of the year saw them crowned champions. Let's not forget, they were spanked against Huddersfield before the play-offs and Wakefield, for all their form, are not a play-off team.

That's to take nothing away from the game at Catalans - one of the toughest and hardest wins I've ever seen, the epic against Wigan, and the outstanding form to stifle Warrington at OT. They turned it on when it mattered and according to the rules, that's what matters. And King Kev led the way.

Well done Kev, not the best player in the world but deserving of the award nonetheless.

yeah...and todd carney won it in 2010

Excellent analogy - I agree fully Barba is clearly a more exciting player but that's not what the award is for.

In his later years Lockyer was rarely what I would consider an exciting player but he was staggeringly consistent in dominating and controlling matches and he's simply the best player I've ever seen.

Why are people responding to king warrior?

Well done Sinfield.

If that was the case, then we would have a lot more than 4 british winners over it's 20 odd year run.

Should have gone to Andy Raleigh

I don't know whether everyone has seen rlthis articlerl but its arrogant and patronising tone was enough to instantly convert me to a Sinfield for Golden Boot supporter and vote 'yes' on the poll, following on from Tony Hannan's campaign on Twitter today to get the Pom support up!

Sinfield had a fantastic 2012 season and since the Golden Boot is about impact of the season rather than being a world class player, I think he's a worthy winner.

Ben Barba 42.28% (1441 votes)
Kevin Sinfield 57.72% (1967 votes)

Total votes: 3408

Fantastic news for Sinfield following a great season

He has been given the award so that the RFL can justify it's rediculous play-off system, but it doesn't wash with me.

Usual Aussie rantings, "we can't have our own way, so we're going to sulk". They see it as "a snub" to their players because one of them didn't win it. Has anyone told them that they don't have a God given right to win it every year. Their arrogance knows no bounds.

I hope your joking.

The one in the link in my post above.