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Kevin Sinfield wins rugby league 2012 Golden Boot

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Leaguecomments190

Kevin Sinfield

Leeds Rhinos and England captain Kevin Sinfield has won the 2012 Golden Boot, the annual award for the world's best rugby league player.

The 32-year-old Lancastrian is only the fourth English player to win the award.

He beat Wigan full-back Sam Tomkins and Australians Cameron Smith, Ben Barba, Cooper Cronk and Nate Myles to lift the prize.

The previous English winners are Ellery Hanley (1988), Garry Schofield (1990) and Andy Farrell (2004).

Sinfield led the Rhinos to World Club Challenge success against Australian champions Manly Sea Eagles, and a sixth Super League title in nine years, collecting the Harry Sunderland Trophy as man of the match in the Old Trafford Grand Final.

He also captained the Rhinos to the Challenge Cup final at Wembley and led England to victory against France and Wales in the Autumn International Series.

John Drake, editor of Rugby League World magazine, which makes the award, said: "The British game can and does still produce individuals of world-class ability. Kevin Sinfield is one such player and it is right that his towering achievements in 2012 should be recognised with the Golden Boot."

Martyn Sadler, chairman of League Publications Ltd, said: "Kevin can't move as quickly as Ben Barba, or with the elusiveness of Sam Tomkins, while Cameron Smith's ability close to the ruck is surely second to none.

"But Sinfield is a supreme captain, and only Cameron Smith can rival his leadership, while Sinfield's goal-kicking success rate in 2012 was 82.84%, compared to 69.64% for Smith.

"In the Super League Grand Final Sinfield kicked five out of five, from all over the pitch, and that after he had been knocked out earlier by a challenge to the head. What he did in that game goes beyond what could reasonably be expected, even of a Golden Boot winner."

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190 comments

  • Comment posted by Seriously, at 10:47 4 Jan 2013

    Thoroughly deserved, a very inspirational leader & role model. Comments on here knocking him are crazy, going into World Cup year we should be thankful & proud to have Kevin Sinfield leading our men into the tournament.

  • Comment posted by NorthbyEastWest, at 15:56 4 Jan 2013

    Jeez, spot the non-Leeds supporters.
    Sour grapes all round and utter nonsense from the negative posts.
    Sinfield is a great captain and sharp rugby mind who can kick under intense pressure and knows how to win (most) big games.

    Deserved. Anyone who says otherwise smells of poo.

  • Comment posted by User0969031787, at 12:31 4 Jan 2013

    Kevin Sinfield is the most consistent player in the British game, he plays at the same level week in and week out, he has carried the Leeds team at times and the travesty is he hasnt been recognised before with the Man of Steel award. I would say his stats match up against any players in the world today, and for the past ten years. A deserved award.

  • Comment posted by User0531902335, at 15:57 4 Jan 2013

    Sinfield is a complete all round player, He is a credit to the game, well done to him for this supreme achievement.

  • Comment posted by User0519791322, at 10:35 4 Jan 2013

    Can't understand the negative comments on here at all. A panel of Rugby League experts have chosen the rightful winner based on more than just whether he is Australian or not. Probably worth noting for those who say he isn't good enough that Leeds have won the WORLD Club Challenge against AUSTRALIAN opponents for the last 2 years. Captain of the best team in the world, seems logical he won to me.

  • Comment posted by 13aside, at 12:03 4 Jan 2013

    Goodness me, the grapes are sour in January.
    There is more to being the best player than just the action on the field of play. Please nominate a better sportsman in 2012, and shudder at the thought of the conduct of those big babies playing with the round ball.

  • Comment posted by User0240753451, at 22:22 4 Jan 2013

    Sorry Victor but I honestly think the writers have made a massive mistake as there are at least 4 other players should have had this award before Sinfield. It's nothing to do with dummy's.

  • Comment posted by M-A-L, at 10:09 4 Jan 2013

    @1 completely agree, great servant to Leeds, nice bloke etc, - best in Yorkshire maybe?, but no Golden Boot

  • Comment posted by User0663944953, at 12:12 4 Jan 2013

    ricardobull65 - Is he the best natural player this year or last, NO.

    This is the reason he shouldn't have won it. Golden Boot is given to the player who has been best that season. Not the seasons previous. Leading Leeds to 5th in the table proves just how inconsistent he is. Playing well for 5 games does not make a season.

  • Comment posted by Morley, at 16:19 4 Jan 2013

    It is an incredibly well deserved award, for a fantastic player and captain, and for a sportsman who should be more widely known as a great role model. I expect that even he would accept that he is probably not the best player in the world, but in a wider context, and looking at his achievements over the years, the award is justified.

  • Comment posted by deleted, at 20:57 4 Jan 2013

    @128. ricardobull65 - I know the game.

    Sinfield is a great player , but he's not the best player. Being captain of a successful team and being respected doesn't make you the best player. Being the best player does.

    Don't think I don't know the game because I don't agree with you.

  • Comment posted by hawkmoon269part2, at 16:32 4 Jan 2013

    Kevin Sinfield definitely deserves this award - he's a great captain, leads from the front, backs his players, would run through a brick wall and is a superb goal-kicker. Off the field, he's a really top quality guy too. Brilliant!

  • Comment posted by User0367635902, at 13:20 4 Jan 2013

    @58 Honoureemackem - Poor only in monetary terms, in entertainment, skill and athleticism League remains miles ahead. The only reason kicking is important is in close games, it is still generally the most tries that wins a League game (unlike RU).

    Sinfield deserves this, he's a pivotal player for Leeds and England. I don't praise Leeds much as a Bradford fan, but he is certainly a worth winner.

  • Comment posted by Phitaxedtothehilt, at 14:07 4 Jan 2013

    Well deserved, and from a Cas supporter thats credit indeed. He leads from the front, and his mentality in the end of season games has shone through in the past 6 years. Shame some of the "Rhino Knockers" can appreciate his talent, I'm sure you'd love him in your team.

  • Comment posted by ricardobull65, at 15:19 4 Jan 2013

    @91 If you look at this as best player over the years he deserves it, if you look at his kicking (Golden Boot is a clue) and leadership he deserves it.

    Plus this is about the influence a player has on his team and sport as a whole not just who shines most with flash rugby. If that was the case Farrell would not have deserved it, but clearly he did.
    Give the lad the credit he is due.

  • Comment posted by Kilted Aussie, at 20:54 4 Jan 2013

    Congrats to Mr Sinfield. He is a very valuable player. It is interesting though that these type of awards usually goes to five-eighths and halfbacks, or utility players. I don't think a prop has ever won an award. In Australia, their Award usually goes to a halfback. Well done Mr Sinfield.

  • Comment posted by Tony Ball, at 13:28 4 Jan 2013

    Having watched Sinfield dictate Leeds' win over Warrington in the GF with what the stats would suggest was a lesser team, I believe on his day he gets what the game is all about more than any other player I've seen bar Andrew Johns. Because his own attributes may not match up line by line doesn't diminish his right to this award because he knits his side into greater than the sum of its parts.

  • Comment posted by domallen_of_coastfm, at 15:27 4 Jan 2013

    @88 - Yes Ricardo, a huge percentage of our population refuse to take any interest in RL. The press coverage is a disgrace, most journalists and all editors come from public school backgrounds. The column inches devoted to meaningless Union games is a scandal but people are easily brainwashed, just look at The X Factor, a lot of people really believe that is a genuine talent contest.

  • Comment posted by User0663944953, at 14:26 4 Jan 2013

    So - of all the major awards Sinfield was eligible for this year:

    Leeds Player of the year - no (Ryan Hall)
    SL Dream Team 6 or 13 - no (Finch and O'Loughlin)
    Man of Steel - No (not even shortlisted)
    World XIII 6 or 13 - No (Thurston and Gallen)

    Golden Boot - best player in the world - Yes

    Cameron Smith got into the NRL dream team and made it into the world XIII.

  • Comment posted by Gooner901, at 00:40 5 Jan 2013

    typical Aussies can't take it when they get beat at something..
    i a wigan fan, and yes i would rather have tomkins win it, but i think sinfield has been brilliant for leeds, brilliant leader...
    aussies just need to suck it up

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