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.

In the driving rain, chemical air, freezing cold and on a plastic pitch?

He played very well behind a amazing pack.

In snow, with their legs tied together in a car park

Don't get all the negativity about this. Sinfield is not just a Leeds legend, but a legend of the Super League era. Not one other player has achieved what he has, and he's the driving force behind Leeds' success. Not quite a one man team, but I'd venture to suggest they'd be considerably poorer if Sinfield was injured for any length of time. Is there a player in world rugby who makes a greater contribution to their team's cause? I don't think so.

All this bitterness. I'm perplexed by the sheer number of people who seemingly can't comprehend what it is that Sinfield does and why he's so highly rated by other players and coaches who really understand the game. For years now Sinfield has been far and away the best leader in English rugby - both as a captain and in terms of leading the team around, he's the best kicker in English rugby - both in general play and conversions, his reading of the game is bettered by very few, and he's one of the few players in this country who can really control a game. Plenty claim he's average, but by every single definition of the word he is not. He's exceptional as are his achievements.

Why is there such a struggle to understand that leading a team round the park for 80 minutes of every game - as Sinfield does - is actually far more important than being a sublime broken field runner like Barba or Tomkins. Why is having a bit of everything as well as exceptional leadership and kicking not seen as being as good as being fast and elusive? This isn't about being the most entertaining player, it's about being the best player and to argue that Sinfield is unworthy of that accolade but Barba is? That's farcical. Would I pay the entrance fee just to watch Sinfield as I would for Slater, Barba or Tomkins? Probably not, but he'd be the first name down on my team sheet every single time because game after game and year after year he has been the difference. His highlights reel might not be as fancy, but few trophy cabinets can compare and he does it all with grace, grit and good sportsmanship.

If he was at Wigan or Warrington they'd be champions, he's also the reason they are not.

None of this is to say that others wouldn't be deserving of the award, but to suggest that Sinfield is undeserving? To me that shows bitterness and a complete ignorance of what he does.

well said sir