RUGBY league legend, now the Rugby Football League’s Rugby Director, Kevin Sinfield delivers his verdict and hopes for 2017.
THIS IS the year where both Super League and England go hand in hand.
The game needs a really strong Super League and being close to the start, I realise something pretty special is going to happen soon.
Super League will be brilliant this year and there are so many stories around the game and so many sub-plots.
We’re all interested in who will get to the Grand Final but I think we will see some brilliant rugby league in the first month of the competition.
Another thing is, it’s probably the first time since I was about 13-years-old that I want Wigan to win silverware. I really want them to win the World Club Challenge and that would be really important for the sport in this country.
I’m looking forward to seeing plenty of players. Jamie Jones Buchanan at Leeds has had an outstanding career and I’d love to see him have another great year.
Seeing Zak Hardaker at Castleford will also intrigue me. Cas are going to be a really strong team this year and if you throw Zak in with Luke Gale and Rangi Chase, if those three hit it off they’ll be a huge threat.
George Williams at Wigan is another I’m looking forward to seeing, as well as Matty Smith in a St Helens shirt when he gets back from his broken leg – he’s probably the best game manager in the competition.
There’s also another ex team-mate of mine, Gareth Ellis at Hull, I hope has a great year, along with some of the outside backs like Jermaine McGillvary.
This could, finally, be Warrington’s year. I like what they’re about and the way they play, especially Kurt Gidley.
Wigan and Warrington will be challenging for both league and cup but I also think Castleford will be there or thereabouts. Hull will be strong again and I’d love to see Leeds up there again.
Can Leeds bounce back from a horrendous 2016? Yes, and the game needs a strong Leeds. They’ve had a really strong pre-season, which is crucial to any club, and I’d like to think that 99 per cent of the players say: “I prefer what happened in 2015 than 2016.”
I’d love England to be a success in the World Cup and to do themselves justice. I’m hoping and fingers crossed 2017 is a really strong year for everyone involved.
Making the final is a success and then who knows? But for me, 2021 is the one where we need to say: “Let’s win it.”
I know we are capable of beating anyone in a final.
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