Smith has 2 of the best players in the world around him in cronk and slater as well as other top class stars like Hoffman. Not to mention arguabley the worlds best coach. More so with QLD & Australia

The Leeds squad as good as it is doesn't offer that support to Sinfield.

Someone doing that has to be a good player. However, SL is almost like semi pro compared to NRL. That would be like choosing a Championship part timer for the best English player over all the SL players.

If Sinfield had done all that at test level against the Aussies or if the WCC wasn't a trial game for the Aussies then I would have picked him myself. However Leeds only played half a dozen games that could be put in the same bracket intensity wise as what the Aussie teams do.

Looking at the previous winners, it has to be said Sinfield is the weakest one of the bunch.

It's like when Michelle McManus won Pop Idol.

To be fair, he played the best captain's knock I'd seen in years in Leeds' play-off run. At least by a British player.

But this is a bit like when Giggs won Sports Personality of the Year to me. Feels like recognition for his magnificent efforts over the paste 10 years rather than his outstanding displays in 2012.

A worthy winner, I'm ashamed to say I once doubted his ability.

I personally disagree with it, for me it's Smith or Barba. But I don't care, an Englishman getting reward playing in England... times are changing. We should be shouting this from the rooftops, let the world know that in the World Cup year, the BEST PLAYER in the world happens to be our captain! The RFL should bang the drum on this one!

In reality it matters very little to the vast majority of RL fans, but who knows, we may get a bit more coverage and a bit more interest on the back of it to try and drag in new spectators. Every little bit of good news, and every picture we can get spread across a newspaper or television screen is a little bit of knowledge for anyone that passes across it

Read my post re Smith. Same goes for Barba too.

Smith and Barba don't play against London, Salford or Widnes. With respect

Or Parramatta.

I'd bet my mortgage on Parra beating Widnes. Actually, I'd bet Parra would beat Widnes and Salford together!

My point being, there is no hiding the fact that the NRL has more quality and is a tougher competition in the weekly rounds, and to produce such levels of consistant brilliance is staggering. I have nothing against Sinfield, born winner, but best in the world... I have to disagree.

Fair play to him. Although I am surprised Barba didn't win it. He was on a different planet to everyone else.