Kevin Sinfield has been a fantastic ambassador and role model for rugby league, says Barrie McDermott
Thursday 2 April 2015 11:50, UK
Sky Sports' Barrie McDermott weighs in on the latest cross-code switch, as Kevin Sinfield announces his move to union...
The cross-code switch is up for discussion again!
I can‘t say I am too surprised to see this one announced, time waits for no man. Kevin Sinfield has had an absolutely stellar career with the Leeds Rhinos and has etched himself into the history books as an all-time great of the Headingley club; he rightly sits alongside Lewis Jones and John Holmes as the finest players in Blue and Amber.
There will be certain players in rugby union who will see him as a scalp they want to claim. That won’t worry him though, as he will thrive on proving himself in that arena as well.
What people won’t know is that he's always had a desire to play rugby union because he has a keen interest and deep appreciation of the game. It's a brave decision at this stage of his career, but it's one I know will excite him. To achieve something in another sport would be phenomenal for him.
The secret to the success of Kevin’s league career is a simple one, and one that will help him in the code switch: he's always been able to evolve. Throughout his years with Leeds he's been a stand-off, he's been a hooker, a scrum-half, a loose forward, a second row; he's had to change and evolve and this move is just another aspect of that. That hasn’t happened by accident, he has been ruthless in his quest for perfection - a strategy that he’ll apply again.
He will need to expand and evolve into an effective rugby union player and I've got every confidence in him - both in what he will do for Yorkshire Carnegie when he joins them, and what he will do for Leeds Rhinos for the remainder of this year.
One-club man
The motivation for the move will be questioned by fans of the sport, but that’s not fair in my opinion. I know Kevin and money would not act as the forefront of his decision-making. He will go with aspirations to get Yorkshire Carnegie back into the Aviva Premiership. They've been nearly there for the last three or four years and his leadership and drive might be the final piece of the jigsaw for them to succeed.
Though some fans will contest his move, I hope they also celebrate how much success he has brought to Leeds and our game in general; he's been a fantastic ambassador and role model to the sport of rugby league. This is a man who has barely put a foot wrong in almost twenty years at the sharp-end, top level of his chosen sport. We are both proud Oldhamers and in the town he is a shining example of what hard work and dedication can achieve.
Leaving Leeds Rhinos will be difficult for Kevin, especially given the amount of time he has been associated with the club. It's always been a source of pride for him that he's only ever played for two clubs. He's played for Waterhead, his amateur team, and he's played for Leeds Rhinos. To be a one-club man in the code of rugby league has, I know, been very important to Kevin, and rightly so.
He's won everything in league. He's won the Golden Boot, he's won Super League six times, he's won three World Club Challenges, Challenge Cup success came last year and he has achieved success on the international stage too. This is a fascinating new chapter in his career, one that he will enjoy and one that he will take on with the same enthusiasm that we have become accustomed to seeing from him.
I'm confident he will thrive in the new environment. He's a great acquisition for any rugby union team, and what he will bring to that changing room is what he's brought to every change room in league - a winning mentality.
Golden Decade
There's an old saying in sport 'you're a long time retired’, and with that in mind the timing of the move is also important. For him to achieve what he wants to achieve he has to do it at the right time for him. Right now he's still fit and very capable physically in order to successfully make this switch, so I think he’s got the timing right.
Remember that he's not just going to retire into an easy game, and he's definitely not going to have everyone in rugby union welcoming him with a brandy and a cigar. There will be certain players in rugby union who will see him as a scalp they want to claim. That won’t worry him though, as he will thrive on proving himself in that arena as well.
Kevin Sinfield has a lot to offer any organisation. He's a much disciplined, determined and professional individual with that uncompromising winning mentality and I have no doubt he will achieve whatever he sets his sights on in union and beyond that.
As for Leeds, well with Sinfield leaving the club at the end of the year they begin the process of replacing a golden generation. They recently celebrated the Golden Decade of success and Kevin quite rightly took centre stage. It's a challenge, but it's a challenge that's been inevitable for this great club for the past few years. Just like with Kevin, I am confident they too will adapt well to the change.
The CEO Gary Hetherington has done it time after time and Leeds, through head coach Brian McDermott, will handle the process in the right way. With young players like Stevie Ward, Brad Singleton, Kallum Watkins and Liam Sutclife carrying on the progress, who says Sinfield won’t lift another Super League title before he goes?
