FORMER Warrington, Leeds, Hull KR and Hull FC head coach Tony Smith has revealed that the “hardest decision” he’s ever had to make as a head coach was centred around Kevin Sinfield.
Smith coached Sinfield and Leeds Rhinos to two Super League Grand Final successes and a World Club Challenge triumph against Canterbury Bulldogs in four seasons at Headingley.
During that time, Smith’s stock rose considerably and he would later move to Warrington Wolves where he won three Challenge Cups.
But, the 58-year-old had a number of kind words to say about Sinfield, who is widely regarded as one of Super League’s greatest ever players.
“What you see him doing, that’s him. There’s no pretence about him, he’s a thoughtful young man,” Smith said on the Super League Raw podcast.
“He was a young captain, I think he was 22 or 23 when I got there. He was able to get leadership from those around him as well.
“He was was in a team that had ex-international Kangaroos with David Furner and Matt Adamson.
“Kevin was able to lead alongside of them and encourage them to lead as well. He didn’t see himself any more special than anyone else which I loved.
“It’s a great ability to have as a leader and he went on to be a senior part of that team later. He was a thorough professional.
“He would be the last one to finish training and he was always there the earliest mucking around with Rob Burrow and playing pranks on each other.
“I’ve always said this: if I had to build a club team and start with any player I’ve ever coached, Kevin Sinfield would be my number one pick as leader of that team.
However, despite holding Sinfield in such high regard, Smith left him out of the England set-up at one point – and the Australian has conceded that it “hurt” the playmaker.
“When it got to England, I had in my squad and the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do as a coach, I made the decision not to play him at one point and I can say that’s the hardest decision I’ve ever made because I had that much respect for him.
“I felt there were players in his position that were more appropriate at that level. It hurt him and it hurt me to tell him.”