Leeds Rhinos all-time top-10 - No 1 Kevin Sinfield

He heads an illustrious list which also includes No 10 Eric Harris, No 9 Joe Thompson, No 8 John Atkinson, No 7 Mick Shoebottom, No 6 Jamie Peacock, No 5 Garry Schofield, No 4 Danny McGuire, No 3 Lewis Jones and No 2 John Holmes.

Do you agree with our selections? Email your top-10 to [email protected] or Tweet @yepsportsdesk.

Number one: Kevin Sinfield.

Captain for, appropriately, 13 seasons: Seven Grand Final victories, including the treble in 2015; three World Club Challenge triumphs; the league leaders’ shield three times and two Challenge Cups.

The most prolific goal kicker and points scorer in Leeds’ and Super League’s history and third-highest of all-time.

Kevin Sinfield was a teenage prodigy who fully lived up to his potential.

The country’s most sought-after young prospect, he spent his entire rugby league career with Leeds and was the heartbeat of the golden generation.

Technically there may have been better players for the club, though Sinfield was unmatched as a pressure goal kicker, but nobody has had a bigger influence on the side, as his record as leader illustrates.

Sinfield played 521 times for Leeds - a total bettered only twice - and scored 3,967 points, from 86 tries, 1,792 goals and 39 drop goals.

He spent roughly the first half of his career at loose-forward before switching to stand-off and his leadership and ability to produce the right play at the right time was integral to their 15 trophy wins during his spell as skipper.

A master at man-management, Sinfield was the model of consistency and, while being able to perform every facet of the game to a high level, knew exactly when and how to bring out the best in the players around him.

Possibly Sinfield’s finest 80 minutes was a man of the match performance in the 2012 Grand Final when, despite being knocked out in the second half, he steered Rhinos to a shock win over Warrington. He was the ultimate modern professional.

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