‘Sir Kev’ has put sport in spotlight

WE’RE BACKING YOU, KEV: juniors players from Waterhead Amateur Rugby League Club are cheering for Kevin Sinfield at Sunday’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.

FELLOW Oldhamer and former Leeds Rhinos captain Iestyn Harris says it would be one of the pinnacles of rugby league if Kevin Sinfield triumphed at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards on Sunday.

Sinfield, who was captained by Harris at Leeds when he made his debut in 1997, became the first player from the sport to be nominated for the award since its inception in 1954.

Harris said: “It’s massive for the game that Sinfield has been nominated and that a rugby league player is among the nominees,” said Harris.

“Personally for Kevin it’s huge too. For a long time the sport perhaps doesn’t get a lot of national coverage, but it could now if he was to win. It could be one of the most memorable moments in the sport.”

Now tackling a new challenge with rugby union side Yorkshire Carnegie, former Waterhead junior Sinfield is one of the most successful captains in rugby league.

Harris hopes the rugby league community rallies round to vote for ‘Sir Kev’ on Sunday evening.

“I’d love him to win it, but it’s obviously going to be very difficult,” he said.