Sinfield confident Leeds will turn it around
Kevin Sinfield is confident Leeds Rhinos will get back to winning ways soon as the season progresses and fit players return from injury.
The Rhinos have won just once in the first five rounds and sit in tenth place on the Super League table.
Club great and former captain Sinfield has been keeping a close eye on his old team.
“I’ve been following every aspect of the games,” he told Love Rugby League.
“I’ve got huge interest still and we’re doing it pretty tough at the minute. But I have no doubt we’ve got some good signs ahead.
“We’ll get some bodies back and we can start showing what we’re made of I think.”
Sinfield believes the current period of adversity could even serve Leeds well in the long run.
“I think the table doesn’t really interest me at this stage,” he said.
“There’s so much rugby to play. Leeds are a fast-flowing type of football team that need a hard ground so given the conditions the year’s started with, and also given the injuries we’ve had, I think it’s made it particularly tough for the boys.
“But I think they’ll come good as soon as the weather kicks on a bit and we get some of those senior guys who’ve been injured.
“We get some of them back on the field and I think the team will be in great shape.
“This bit of adversity at the start of the year could work out to be a good thing as the season progresses and could work in our favour.”
The Rhinos host St Helens at Headingley on Friday night. Saints have lost only once in their first five games.
“Both Leeds and Saints are fantastic clubs,” Sinfield said.
“We’ve played them in so many great games over the past 15 years and there’s a really healthy respect between the two sides. It will be a real tough game.
“When you look at Saints, Keiron’s certainly made his mark there. They’re an oustanding rugby team and I just think they’ve got some great players as well so it’s a relaly good challenge for the boys at this stage.
“Having had the disappointments of last week at Wigan, to have a chance to bounce back at home with hopefully a few bodies back is an exciting prospect for everybody involved.
“I’m sure it will be a close game, I’m sure it will be a tough one again but hopefully we can come out on top this week.”
Sinfield has a new book out called Kevin Sinfield – My League Years, which details his near two decades in rugby league. The book is published by Great Northern Books and is available from all good bookshops and www.greatnorthernbooks.co.uk.