If Barba is the best he can't play himself. Lionel Messi doesn't play against the best in the world either so we can't consider him the best.

Sinfield is neither the best player in the world or the world's best player in 2012. He's world class* but he's not top of the pile.

*world class in the big games - he doesn't do it consistently week in, week out, or else Leeds would be higher than 5th. He if you argue he does do it week in, week out and Leeds still finish 5th then the rest of the Leeds squad must be extremely mediocre.

Au contraire, I can point to one piece of evidence (generally accepted prior to todays announcement) that states categorically that Sinfield is both the best player in the world or the world's best player in 2012. That you disagree with the fact doesn't change it.

There are, especially in the pack, some pretty mediocre players, there are also, some pretty aging players also in the pack who can only fire every so often. This is what led Leeds to some pretty mediocre performances.

Also, you play Sinfield behind a pack of
Kasiano, Ennis, Tolman,
Eastwood, Pritchard
Stagg

interchanging with Graham, Payne and Halatau and Leeds dont lose a game all year.

Well he's never won the Challenge Cup, so it doesn't matter if it's meaningful or not.

The Golden Boot is based on performances from January 2012 to December 2012.

Over that period of time, it's hard to think of a player who has been more successful or more influential than Kevin Sinfield.

Three major finals, two wins, man of the match in one of them. Captained his country three times, three wins.

Had the Man Of Steel vote taken place now rather than towards the end of the domestic season, I suspect you would see a different winner on that trophy too.

Cameron Smith led his club to a top 2 finish and won the GF, he also captained his country to 2 victories over New Zealand (a proper international team not France and Wales who are little better than amateurs), and led Queensland to another record breaking series win over NSW in the toughtest RL competition on earth. I would say that just edges it.

Also, why would he win MOS if it was voted for now? Does 1 game in a GF and a nothing 3 game "international" series if you can call it that make up for the rest of the season. MOS is voted for by the players of SL and who they think has been the best over the year, so if they thought he had been the best of the season from playing with/against him I am sure he would have been nominated

a well deserved award. its also entirely predictable that he should be put down on a thread like this by people who are obviously much more knowledgeable than the panel who decided it. he's won this for his ability as an insprational captain - someone who can get the best out of arguably a set of players who on paper are nowhere near the best in the british game. its down to him largely that leeds have twice won the league from fifth 2 years in a row. cam smith might be the obvious choice but his team were outright favourites for the title and he's surrounded by much better players.

now all he has to do is lift the England team in similar circumstances in the 2013 WC!

The Man Of Steel votes were cast before the playoff series IIRC, in which Sinfield produced a series of outstanding individual performances culminating in winning Man of the Match in the Grand Final.

If you don't think that might have swayed the voting, then you're as well informed as the chump in your avatar.

While I can't argue that Sinfield isn't a great captain/leader with a magnificent kicking game, he's not a player who I get excited about watching, in fact I only notice him when he's kicking. I never expect him to produce a burst of individual skill that completely turns a game on its head, and for me, that's what I look for in a player worthy of such an accolade. It's all personal preference.

Which is all well and good, but I'd argue that Sinfield's greatest asset is the fact that when he controls the game it's entirely down to the opposition and whether they can provide that moment of individual skill to turn the game Leeds are dominating on it's head. Mission Impossible is much more exciting, but Citizen Kane is an infinitely superior film.

Lets get things into prospective, Kevin is a good player and plays well for Leeds but Best player in the world
He's not even the best player in Superleague that was Sam Tomkins, Roby, Dureau, Westwood, Oloughlin