Kevin Sinfield is a very special rugby league footballer. Yes he may not have turned it on in international games but how many can hold their hand up and say they have? He's had a great career and deserves a hell of a lot of respect.

Sinfield is excellent for Leeds and is a top captain.
On the field, apart from his kicking game, he doesn't seem to do anything extravagant, but certainly inspires and motivates his team.
At international level he just doesn't have the same level of input or authority but, for Leeds, he's their most important player.

A great captain and kicker, a very average player in open play.

when he's played at hooker for england he's been brilliant....so much so wally lewis said england should build a team around him

You don't achieve what Sinfield has by being average

Sinfield's problem is that he doesnt fit peoples expectation of what a player playing a certain position should do. Rather than looking at Sinfield on his own merits, he is judged against some hypothetical check list of skills a player in a certain position should be.

Thats why we get comments like 'not big enough for a lock, not fast enough for a stand off'. Sinfield is probably the best defensive stand-off in RL, he may not be as fast as some but he is stronger than most, he may not bust too many tackles, or make that many breaks, but he has a very good offload game and makes lots of metres and takes lots of tackles. Forget the number on his back and look at what he contributes and you will see a very very good player.

Wait a minute... you know Sinfield has won a Lance Todd right Bully?

Especially not by being "very" average

You don't need to be flashy to be brilliant. Leeds are a poorer side without him with the way he can control the game and steady the ship. Lucky he doesn't miss many games, then!

Smokey TA i disagree and not just winding up now - I have watched and a lot of his tackles he is not the main man he makes a lot of third man in tackle (which still need making do not get me wrong) but that is not the sign of a strong defensive 6. He rarely takes on the line and thus his limited clean breaks or busts - as a 6 in the junior league he used to do this often, a stand off does not need to be quick a fair few have made breaks with men in support who are faster I remember people like craigie or bradley not graced with pace but provided a few breaks and tries were conceded off this. If you look at the stats (not the only reason to judge a player i know) for a player regarded as so creative (somone who does not take many hit ups or make many 1:1 tackles for a forward should be creative) he is not somone who fits in a box. Thing is when you look at the side he has played loose forward because mcguire ticks more boxes at six than he does and burrow was predominantly a 7 until recently. He is a great leader and does organise things but is that not what forshaw was doing as water carrier?
the reason he struggles at international level is he is not good enough as an out an out 6 or 13 and against australia you cant carry players because they are good at goal kicking.

One thing is that Sinfield has really never had a decent spell out through injury during his career. If he were to miss say at least 8-10 games from injury then i think you would see the massive difference of not having him around. Because he's always been there i don't think people really know what he gives until the time comes when it's gone.

he did miss nearly 7 weeks with a serious haematoma the other year.

I get the point but I think if you took away his goalkicking the impression of him as a player would be less. Not suggesting he is only a goalkicker in the slightest but its like wingers with tries it can be deceptive in some peoples eyes. I think he is a good leader and a good player in his own right but a rugby league legend or man of steel contender no.

the sign of a good team captain in any team sport is that he makes players around him play well.
he is inspirational. a top, top player.