'We'd have won World Cup with Lockers and Gaz in there' - Leeds Rhinos' Kevin Sinfield

He was speaking about the retirement of three “legends” of the sport in Sean O’Loughlin, James Graham and his former Leeds and England team-mate Ellis.

England lost the 2017 World Cup final 6-0 against Australia in Brisbane, with captain O’Loughlin sidelined after picking up a quad injury in the semi-final against Tonga.

Asked if he thought they would have won it - their first such final in 22 years - with the Wigan loose forward in the team, Sinfield responded: “Yes. And I’d throw Gareth Ellis in there, too.

“He had retired but he’d have been great to have out there as well.”

Ellis actually finished playing for England at the age of 32 - ahead of the 2013 World Cup - having played 22 Tests as well as winning another 17 caps for Great Britain.

The decision was made to focus on his club career and elongate his playing career which certainly worked as the combative back-row - who won two Grand Finals with Leeds - only finally retired last week at the age of 39.

He did originally pack in with Hull at the end of 2017 but came out of retirement last year and enjoyed an Indian summer with the Black and Whites.

Ex-England captain Sinfield, who played alongside Ellis at Leeds between 2005 and 2008 before the ex-Wakefield Trinity star headed to Wests Tigers in the NRL, said: “Gaz has had an unbelievable career.

“He’s a great character - funny, smart - and he just absolutely belted people.

“In those years I played with him at Leeds, I used to defend just outside him and if anyone came down our channel he sat them on their backside time and time again.

“He’s probably under-rated with the ball. His footwork was great as was his offload but he was probably your modern-day forward.

"He could play anywhere in the pack now, even approaching 40.

“He’s just a top, top bloke. I don’t think you’d find many bad rugby lads at all.

“When you think about all the players you’ve played alongside and against, there aren’t many bad ones But he’s one of the best as a bloke.

“He’s had a wonderful career. It did surprise me when he came out of retirement but I do understand it and I think he did a wonderful job; he had that much of an influence at Hull that they did really, really need him.”

Ellis, who has now joined Hull’s coaching staff, brought the match ball out at Friday’s Super League Grand Final when Graham’s St Helens defeated O’Loughlin’s Wigan in a classic contest.

Sinfield, who starts his 7 in 7 marathon challenge tomorrow in aid of Rob Burrow and in support of Motor Neurone Disease Association, said: “The game will miss all three of them; they are three legends.”