New deal waiting for Rhinos legend Sinfield

As he prepares for his 500th career game tonight, the most successful leader in the club’s history is showing no signs of losing any of his prowess.

Furthermore, given he still does not turn 33 until next month, the influential stand-off understandably has no intention of even contemplating retirement in the foreseeable future.

Currently rated the world’s best player, Sinfield is contracted until the end of 2014 but will then decide himself how long he wants to continue in the blue and amber.

He made his debut for the West Yorkshire club in 1997 and has since led them to six Super League titles and three World Club Challenge successes, making them the pre-eminent side of this era.

But Sinfield’s hunger has clearly never diminished and he sees evergreen team-mate Jamie Peacock as the perfect example of what can still be achieved, the 36-year-old prop who has been in such rich form this season.

“I’ve got another year and then I’ve got an agreement with Gary where he has said ‘as long as you’re happy playing here there will always be a contract for you’,” said the England captain, ahead of this evening’s game with London Broncos at Twickenham Stoop.

“I won’t make any decisions about it now. I think what JP has done is really smart. I have an idea in my head about how long I’d like to play but we’ll see. I’d like to think I’ve got a good few years left.”

He made his first professional appearance for Leeds against Sheffield Eagles the day after receiving his GCSE results. “I was a kid really, 16 years old, coming into a man’s game,” recalled Sinfield, who has gone on to become leading points scorer in history for both the club and Super League.

“But I learned so much that day. It probably helped me so much in the next five or six years because I knew the standard where I needed to be physically but also mentally as well.

“It wasn’t a great start because we lost. We used to get win bonuses and they’ve gone now. I remember thinking ‘I’ve just lost my first pay packet’, and it was £500. That’s a lot even nowadays.”

It was not long before Sinfield started getting used to the winning habit, however, and, despite racking up so many appearances since in such a distinguished career, he maintains he feels as fresh as ever.

“I honestly don’t feel that old at all,” said Sinfield, who returned from a rare injury absence to play a crucial role in last Friday’s win at Wakefield. “I never realised this (500) was coming. I know I did 450 appearances for Leeds earlier this year but I suppose you just crack on. With being injured, your priority is being back fit but it’s really nice and I’m really honoured.

“When you look back and think that 500 game-days mean there have been 500 days of my life where I’ve solely thought about rugby, then I am proud of it and there are not many players who get there.

“1997 seems a long time ago and it is. I’m so fortunate that I’m still kicking around and I’m still fit and healthy. To play for a club like this for this length of time is certainly a dream come true. It’s been brilliant. There is the international stuff on top of that. It’s not always been rosy but the last couple of years have been brilliant. It’s been a nice 499 so far.”

The 500th game should not be the most taxing if abysmal London’s latest performance is anything to read into.

They were embarrassing when vanquished 70-0 in Saturday’s Challenge Cup semi-final and remain rooted to the bottom of Super League.

But, ever professional, the judicious Sinfield will not be expecting anything other than a tough examination as he bids to strengthen Leeds’s hold on fourth spot and take the champions to within just three points of leaders Huddersfield Giants.

Brian McDermott’s side are certainly well-placed for a third successive tilt at Grand Final glory and probably from higher than their usual starting point of fifth.

The obvious question, though, is which is Sinfield’s greatest match of the 499 so far?

“If I had to pick a game to relive and go through again it would be last year’s Grand Final,” he quickly answered, when he won a second Harry Sunderland Trophy as man-of-the-match at Old Trafford. By no means was it mistake-free but the journey we went on in the six weeks before, and what had happened in 2011, to finish as champions again was really special.”

Inevitably given his talents, there have been times when Sinfield could have left Leeds, who are strengthened by the return of Ryan Bailey and Kallum Watkins tonight.

He admits “considering” potential moves but added: “I think happiness is a lot more important than chasing pound notes.

“For me it certainly has been. I’m sure the chance to earn more money would have been out there, but in terms of sitting down with clubs and talking salaries, that’s going a bit further than just showing an interest.

“I’ve always been happy here. I’ve looked at things but have never had the desire to leave.”

Meanwhile if asked, Sinfield has no issues playing in the uncustomary position of hooker again this evening as he did at Wakefield after returning from a dislocated thumb. “For me to spit the dummy out over playing hooker would be ridiculous,” he said. “We’ll do what’s best for Leeds and likewise with England.”

Hooker Paul McShane returns to the squad tonight, replacing Jimmy Keinhorst, after being recalled from Hunslet Hawks.

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