Dave Craven: Depth of Headingley squad helps ease pain of Sinfield absence

Nothing new there. When it comes to key talking points it seems relationships between scribes can sometimes get more heated than the battles on the actual pitch.

Interpretations on rules and refereeing decisions are, invariably, the ones that fuel most outbursts although everyone was in unison once more when it came to another bizarre piece of work from Steve Ganson on his swift return to the video referee box. Utter bewilderment.

However, another topic of conversation was the Leeds squad itself and whether, given its make-up, it was a rank outsider to prosper against Widnes or, indeed, should have no excuse to fail. It was a strange and rare scenario; the Super League champions did certainly have 10 first-team players missing, including no less than six internationals.

They also had a trio of 18-year-olds in their squad, one of whom was making his debut with the others having just five appearances between them.

Coach Brian McDermott also gave prop Brad Singleton a first Super League start but, such was the disruption, the rookie had to be named at loose forward.

Surely this weakened side, so heavily diluted, would be no match even for a Widnes team that has struggled for any fluency?

Yet, looking down the teamsheet again, it could equally be argued that Leeds still contained eight Grand Final winners in their side including five internationals, one of which was the world’s best winger.

Widnes did not boast a single Old Trafford victor among their 17. Though they could count seven internationals, one was Ireland’s Eamon O’Carroll and Willie Isa plus Patrick Ah Van have just one solitary Samoa cap each. Admittedly, four of Leeds’s contingent had played in the England v Exiles game just 72 hours previously, a taxing schedule that none of their opponents had to endure, but still, it all showed how difficult it was to ascertain what the likely outcome would be.

That Leeds eventually prospered should perhaps be attributed to two things – the excellent husbandry that must go on at Headingley and their continued development of exciting prospects.

Kevin Sinfield, the captain who missed his first game in three years, has said before that some of the Rhinos squad that have now amassed six titles could easily have earned more money elsewhere but stayed due to the team spirit imbuing the club.

That was illustrated once more given not only him but players of the calibre of Danny McGuire, Kallum Watkins, Carl Ablett, Brett Delaney, Ryan Bailey and Kylie Leuluai – such a big chunk of the club’s salary cap – were all absent.

Losing Sinfield for six weeks will be the biggest blow given his huge influence on the champions but perhaps his thumb injury will offer his battered bones some welcome respite too.

Let’s not forget there is a World Cup at the end of the year and England need their redoubtable captain to be peaking.

He will also return refreshed just in time for the crucial business end of the campaign for his club.

In the meantime, teenager Liam Sutcliffe demonstrated against Widnes that, even in his tender years, he has all the attributes to handle taking over the crucial half-back role from such an esteemed colleague.

There will undoubtedly be testing times ahead for Leeds but they are rightly showing faith in their youngsters to see them through this difficult period.

England Academy captain Jordan Baldwinson looks a real handful while Singleton came of age the other night.

With Huddersfield Giants fielding a predominantly English team recently, Bradford Bulls promoting their own homegrown talent, too, and both Hull clubs seeing their kids thrive, one thing that cannot be argued on press benches across the land is that clubs are thankfully giving youth a chance at last.